US Imposes Penalties on Network Accused of Funneling Colombian Mercenaries to the Sudanese Conflict.

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the department stated.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.