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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.