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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the UAE. The government accused him a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.