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The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.