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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.