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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, after an report which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department announced.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.