🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

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

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.