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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, following an investigation which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.