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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.