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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.