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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the Dubai. The government accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "highly important" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.