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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, following an investigation which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.