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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.