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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, following an report which found that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.