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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" 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 operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.