🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.