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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.