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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other 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 monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.