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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.