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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform its security approach.

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 centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.