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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, after an report which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.