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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.