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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an report which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, 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 "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "major" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.