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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

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

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.