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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, following an investigation which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in 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 vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

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 Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.