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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an report which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the department stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.