🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.