🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an report which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The government said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

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

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.