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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, following an report which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.