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The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

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

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.