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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

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

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an investigation which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.