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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an report which found that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The government said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.