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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, after an report which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.