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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

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 hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.