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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, after an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.