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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "major" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, 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 centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.