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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.