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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "highly important" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.