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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "major" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.