🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Restrictions on Operation Alleged of Channeling South American Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict. The United States has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide. Network Composition Announcing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings. Revelation of Role The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an report which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government. Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training. Reported Actions In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Targeted Persons Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well. Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations. "The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department stated. Reaction An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy". It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy. Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors". "This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.