🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Penalties on Operation Alleged of Channeling South American Mercenaries to the Sudanese Conflict. The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide. Network Composition Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies. Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings. Revelation of Role The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged in 2024, after an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education. Reported Actions In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way". Targeted Persons Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The government accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned. Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies. "The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced. Analyst Commentary Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach". It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change national security policy. Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade". "It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.