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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to fight – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.