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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, following an report which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.