🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Sanctions on Operation Alleged of Funneling South American Mercenaries to the Sudanese Conflict. The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide. Group Makeup Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions. Emergence of Involvement The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, following an investigation which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education. Activities in Sudan In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way". Targeted Persons Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement said. Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies. "Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency announced. Reaction Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go". It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy. A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors". "It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.