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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.