The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.
Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.
Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.
The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.
These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.
In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".
Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.
Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.
Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.
"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.
A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".
It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.
Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".
"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.
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