🔗 Share this article US Imposes Restrictions on Network Accused of Recruiting South American Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict. The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide. Group Makeup Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions. Emergence of Involvement The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education. Reported Actions In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned. Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations. "Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department stated. Analyst Commentary An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach". She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy. A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade". "It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.