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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.