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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores 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 linked to severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an inquiry which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.