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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, 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 linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

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