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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

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

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "major" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.