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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.