🔗 Share this article

The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.