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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the agency announced.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.