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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an investigation which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, 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. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "major" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.