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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.