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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, after an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to fight – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "major" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.