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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.