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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms charged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to 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 vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.