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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The government said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.