🔗 Share this article US Imposes Restrictions on Operation Alleged of Funneling South American Mercenaries to Sudan. The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts. Network Composition Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions. Emergence of Involvement The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá. Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education. Activities in Sudan In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated. Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses. "The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement. Reaction Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach". Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change national security policy. Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade". "It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.