🔗 Share this article US Imposes Restrictions on Operation Alleged of Recruiting Colombian Fighters to Sudan. The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings. Revelation of Role The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to fight – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government. Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction. Role in the Conflict In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Named Entities Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned. Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations. "Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement. Expert Analysis An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach". Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape its security approach. Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors". "It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.