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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, after an report which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.