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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an report which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.