🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to fight – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.