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The Washington 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 committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, after an investigation which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change its security approach.

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

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.