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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans 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 Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "major" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.