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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The government said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Individual 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 companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.