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The United States has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, after an report which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

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

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.