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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded 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 superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.