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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, after an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.