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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.