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

The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, following an report which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.