Washington Levies Penalties on Group Accused of Recruiting Colombian Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict.

The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

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 accused him a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" development, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.