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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an report which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the department stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.