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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.