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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

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

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

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

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.