🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Penalties on Group Accused of Funneling South American Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict. The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide. Group Makeup Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms. Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions. Emergence of Involvement The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light in 2024, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction. Activities in Sudan In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said. Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations. "The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury stated. Reaction A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy". Furthermore, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy. A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade". "This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.