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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an investigation which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department stated.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.