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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.