US Imposes Sanctions on Operation Alleged of Channeling South American Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict.

The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.