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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on this week, the American 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 Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned 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 pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

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

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.