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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.