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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.