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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.