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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, after an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers 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 authorities say oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting 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 difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.