US Sanctions Target Colombian Mercenary Recruitment in Sudan Conflict

Severity: High (Score: 69.5)

Sources: Nbcnews, Washingtonpost

Summary

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on three individuals and two firms for allegedly recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's ongoing war, which began in April 2023. The sanctions were announced by the Department of Treasury on April 18, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and war crimes associated with the RSF. The sanctioned entities include the Bogota-based employment agency Fénix and another agency, GQAB, both linked to retired Colombian military officer Alvaro Andres Quijano Becerra. Since 2024, hundreds of former Colombian soldiers have reportedly been deployed to Sudan, participating in combat and technical roles. The RSF has been accused of committing atrocities, including summary executions and ethnic cleansing, with at least 59,000 deaths attributed to the conflict. The U.S. sanctions aim to disrupt the recruitment and deployment of foreign mercenaries to the RSF, which has been implicated in severe human rights violations. The situation remains critical as the war continues with no resolution in sight. Key Points: • The U.S. sanctioned three individuals and two firms for recruiting Colombian mercenaries. • The RSF has been involved in the Sudan war since April 2023, with significant human rights abuses reported. • Hundreds of Colombian soldiers have been deployed to support the RSF since 2024.

Key Entities

• A4SI (company)
• Fénix (company)
• GQAB (company)
• Sudan (country)
• United States (country)