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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.