United States Enforces Sanctions on Network Accused of Funneling South American Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict.

The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an report which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source 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 citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.