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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.