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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an investigation which found that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.