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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers 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 Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.