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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms accused of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.

Reaction

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

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.