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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, after an report which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.