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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

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

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the UAE. The government accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.