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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, following an report which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

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

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters 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, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

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

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.