🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Sanctions on Network Accused of Channeling South American Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict. The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide. Operation Structure Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings. Emergence of Involvement The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government. Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education. Activities in Sudan In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way". Named Entities Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses. "Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department stated. Reaction Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy". Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape national security policy. A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade". "It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.