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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.