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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.