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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.