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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities charged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.