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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.