🔗 Share this article US Imposes Sanctions on Network Accused of Channeling Colombian Contractors to Sudan. The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts. Operation Structure Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms. Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions. Revelation of Role The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá. These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training. Reported Actions In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Named Entities Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies. "The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency stated. Reaction A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach". She added that, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change national security policy. Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism". "It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.