🔗 Share this article

The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "major" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.