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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.