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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an investigation which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

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

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.