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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.