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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

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 ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the UAE. The government alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.