🔗 Share this article

The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.