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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.