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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the agency announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.