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The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.