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The United States has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology 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 years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "major" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.