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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, after an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.