🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Sanctions on Operation Alleged of Channeling South American Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict. The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide. Network Composition Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms. Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions. Discovery of Participation The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, after an report which found that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that led to 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 extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education. Reported Actions In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well. Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement said. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations. "Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced. Reaction An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go". It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy. Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism". "It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.