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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, following an report which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.