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

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.