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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.