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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an report which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

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

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.