Washington Levies Sanctions on Network Accused of Funneling South American Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict.

The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.