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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, following an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.