The United States has imposed sanctions on four people and four companies accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight and train fighters for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is blamed by Washington for genocide and serious war crimes. The sanctions, announced Tuesday by the US Treasury, target a network mostly made up of Colombian nationals. Hundreds of former Colombian soldiers have gone to Sudan to join the RSF. These mercenaries have been linked to ethnically targeted killings and abductions during the conflict. This mercenary involvement became public last year after Bogotá news outlet La Silla Vacía revealed over 300 ex-Colombian soldiers were contracted to fight in Sudan. This revelation forced Colombia’s foreign ministry to issue an unusual apology. Colombian ex-soldiers are popular mercenaries worldwide due to their experience in Colombia’s long civil war, knowledge of Nato gear, and strong combat training. In Sudan, these Colombians have trained child soldiers, taught drone piloting, and fought on the front lines. One mercenary told The Guardian and La Silla Vacía he trained children and fought in the siege of El Fasher. He called the training “awful and crazy” but said, “unfortunately that’s how war is.” Among those sanctioned is Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a retired Colombian officer with Colombian-Italian nationality living in the UAE. The US Treasury accused him of leading the recruitment of Colombian fighters in Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned. Another is Mateo Andres Duque Botero, a Colombian-Spanish national who ran a business handling funds and payroll for the mercenary network. The Treasury statement noted that in 2024 and 2025, US firms linked to Duque moved millions of dollars. Monica Muñoz Ucros, another Colombian, was sanctioned along with her company for carrying out wire transfers connected to Duque’s businesses. The US Treasury urged, “The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents.” Elizabeth Dickinson from the International Crisis Group called the sanctions a “very significant” step. She added, “calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go.” Colombia has also adopted a law to limit mercenary recruitment in line with international rules. However, mercenary expert Sean McFate warned sanctions alone will not stop mercenary activities. He said, “It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof.” The UAE has been accused of supplying arms to the RSF but denies it. McFate cautioned, “Expect more Colombian mercenaries.”