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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an report which found that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.