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

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to 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 vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

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

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.