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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.