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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation 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 committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, after an report which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed 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 reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.