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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.