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The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms accused of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, after an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.