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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities accused of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

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

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.