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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an report which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

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

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.