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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The government said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.