🔗 Share this article

The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, after an report which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.