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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, after an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized 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 pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape 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’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.