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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.