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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "very significant" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.