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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the department announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "highly important" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.