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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.