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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.