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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.