🔗 Share this article

The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" development, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.