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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, after an investigation which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.