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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.