🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Restrictions on Network Accused of Channeling South American Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict. The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide. Operation Structure Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies. Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings. Discovery of Participation The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry. These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education. Role in the Conflict In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Named Entities Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well. Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his companies. "Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement. Expert Analysis An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go". Furthermore, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change national security policy. Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade". "This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.