🔗 Share this article

The United States has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.