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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities accused of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, following an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.