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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.