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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, after an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the Dubai. The government said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.