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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, after an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" 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 ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.