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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

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

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.