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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.