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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

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

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.