The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.
Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.
Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.
The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.
These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.
In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".
Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.
Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.
Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.
"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the department stated.
A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".
Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change national security policy.
A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".
"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.
