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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, prompted by an report which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.