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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an report which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the UAE. The government said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from 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. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.