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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "major" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.