Washington Levies Sanctions on Operation Accused of Recruiting Colombian Mercenaries to Sudan.

The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source 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 citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The government accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.

Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor

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