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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.