US Sanctions Network Accused Of Sending Hundreds Of Colombian Mercenaries To Fight For Sudan's RSF

The United States has imposed sanctions on a network accused of recruiting and funding former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train fighters from Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which U.S. authorities say have committed serious war crimes and acts of ethnic violence.

Details Of The Sanctions

On Tuesday the U.S. Treasury announced measures targeting four individuals and four companies reportedly linked to a recruitment and payment network largely composed of Colombian nationals and Colombia-linked firms. Authorities say the network handled payroll and transfers that, in 2024 and 2025, included millions of dollars routed through U.S.-linked financial channels.

Who Was Targeted

The Treasury identified four people it says played central roles in the network:

• Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra — a dual Colombian-Italian retired Colombian officer based in the UAE, accused of coordinating recruitment and deployment of former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.
• Mateo Andrés Duque Botero — a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen the Treasury says managed a business that handled funds and payroll for the network. U.S.-linked firms associated with Duque reportedly processed numerous wire transfers totaling millions in 2024–2025.
• Mónica Muñoz Ucros — a Colombian national whose company is accused of conducting wire transfers tied to Duque and the network.

Allegations And Evidence

An investigation by Bogotá outlet La Silla Vacía first revealed last year that more than 300 former Colombian soldiers had been contracted to fight in Sudan, prompting a rare apology from Colombia's foreign ministry. Reports say some recruits trained child soldiers, taught RSF personnel to operate drones, and fought on the front lines, including in the siege of El Fasher.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury said in its announcement.

Expert Reactions And Wider Context

Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that identifying and naming those who arrange the contracts is the right approach. She also noted Colombia's recent ratification of the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, intended to curb decades of Colombian participation in foreign conflicts.

But Sean McFate, an expert on mercenary activity, cautioned that sanctions alone may not be sufficient. He described the trade as an illicit economy centered in Dubai that can be resilient to sanctions and warned that more Colombian mercenaries could continue to be recruited despite the measures. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying arms to the RSF — allegations the UAE denies.

Why It Matters

The sanctions aim to disrupt the financial and logistical networks enabling foreign fighters to join violent conflicts abroad. By targeting recruiters and payment conduits, U.S. authorities hope to reduce the flow of personnel and resources to groups accused of grave human-rights abuses. However, analysts warn enforcement challenges remain, especially when networks operate through third-country hubs and informal channels.