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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which found that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.