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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

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

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.