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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "major" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.