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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.