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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the UAE. The government accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.