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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "very significant" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.