US Imposes Restrictions on Network Alleged of Recruiting South American Contractors to Sudan.

The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.