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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.