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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, following an report which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.