US Imposes Sanctions Over Alleged Recruitment of Colombian Mercenaries for Sudan War
The United States has taken decisive action by imposing sanctions on three individuals and two firms, accusing them of recruiting and deploying Colombian mercenaries to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's ongoing conflict. This move, announced by the Department of Treasury, targets entities involved in a war that has now entered its fourth year, with no resolution in sight and devastating humanitarian consequences.
Details of the Sanctions and Alleged Activities
The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control stated that the sanctioned parties were engaged in recruiting and deploying former Colombian military personnel to Sudan to fight on behalf of the RSF. Among those targeted are two Bogota-based employment agencies: Fénix, established last year as a replacement for A4SI, which was previously sanctioned in December for aiding the RSF, and GQAB. Both firms were founded by Alvaro Andres Quijano Becerra, a retired Colombian military officer, and his wife, who are also listed on Sudan-related sanctions.
The individuals sanctioned include Fénix's manager Quijano Torres, GQAB owner Jose Garcia Batte, and GQAB's manager and legal representative Omar Garcia Batte, all Colombian nationals. According to the Treasury, hundreds of former Colombian soldiers have been deployed to Sudan since 2024, serving in combat and technical roles across the country, exacerbating the conflict.
Background on the Sudan Conflict and RSF Atrocities
The war in Sudan erupted on April 15, 2023, when tensions between the military and the RSF escalated into open fighting in Khartoum, spreading nationwide. The RSF, which originated from the feared Arab Janjaweed militias notorious for atrocities in Darfur during the early 2000s, has been accused of severe human rights violations. The US has cited the RSF for summary executions, ethnically motivated attacks, sexual and gender-based violence, and torture, particularly in areas under its control like el-Fasher in Darfur.
In December, the State Department labeled RSF actions as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. A recent attack on el-Fasher in October, described by UN-commissioned experts as bearing the hallmarks of genocide, resulted in at least 6,000 deaths in just three days, highlighting the brutality of the conflict.
Humanitarian Crisis and Global Impact
The war has led to catastrophic humanitarian outcomes, with the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reporting at least 59,000 deaths over three years, though this figure is likely an underestimate due to reporting challenges. The conflict has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis, affecting approximately 34 million people—nearly two-thirds of Sudan's population—who require urgent assistance, according to the UN.
This sanctions announcement underscores the US's ongoing efforts to pressure the RSF and its supporters, aiming to curb the violence and address the deepening crisis in Sudan.
