🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The government said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.