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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, prompted by an investigation which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.