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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities 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 sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.