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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, following an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries 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 accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.