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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.