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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

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

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.