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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

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

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the UAE. The government accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

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

She added that, Colombia recently passed a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.