🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.