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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.