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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.