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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.