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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.