🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.