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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.