🔗 Share this article

The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The government accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

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

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.