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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The government accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "highly important" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.