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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an report which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

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

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.