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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.