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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, following an report which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.