🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

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

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.