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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms accused of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.