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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and change its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.