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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, following an report which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.