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The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.