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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.