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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, following an report which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.