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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.