🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Sanctions on Operation Alleged of Channeling South American Mercenaries to the Sudanese Conflict. The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide. Network Composition Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings. Discovery of Participation The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an report which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction. Role in the Conflict In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Named Entities Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted. Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations. "Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency said in a statement. Reaction A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go". Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach. A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors". "It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.