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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed 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 accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, after an report which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.