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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department announced.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.