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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.