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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.