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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.