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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.