U.S. sanctions RSF Colombian recruitment network
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned four individuals and four firms on Dec. 9, alleging they recruited former Colombian soldiers to train Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, which Washington has accused of genocide in Darfur. Treasury cited the network’s role in supporting RSF operations, including the Oct. 26 capture of El Fasher, and quoted Under Secretary John K. Hurley saying RSF brutality is deepening conflict and creating conditions for terrorism.
📌 Key Facts
- Sanctions target four people and four companies tied to recruiting ex‑Colombian military for Sudan’s RSF.
- Named individuals include retired Colombian officer Alvaro Andres Quijano Becerra and employment agency manager Mateo Andres Duque Botero.
- Treasury says Colombian fighters supported RSF’s Oct. 26 capture of El Fasher; U.S. officials and ICC cite suspected RSF war crimes.
📊 Relevant Data
The RSF and its allied militias have committed genocide against non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur, Sudan, targeting communities such as the Massalit.
Genocide Determination in Sudan and Imposing Accountability Measures — U.S. Department of State
Since September 2024, hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have traveled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF.
Treasury Sanctions Transnational Network Recruiting Colombians to Fight for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan — U.S. Department of the Treasury
Colombian ex-military are recruited as mercenaries due to deficient support structures for retired personnel, low pensions, and limited job opportunities in civilian life.
'War is a business': the Colombian mercenaries training Sudan's paramilitary forces — The Guardian
The RSF's campaign in Darfur involves ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity against the Massalit population, with historical roots in the 2003-2005 Darfur genocide.
“The Massalit Will Not Come Home”: Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in El Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan — Human Rights Watch