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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, following an report which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.