🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The government said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "major" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy 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, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.