🔗 Share this article US Imposes Penalties on Operation Accused of Channeling South American Mercenaries to Sudan. The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide. Group Makeup Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms. Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions. Discovery of Participation The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction. Role in the Conflict In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Named Entities Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted. Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations. "Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated. Expert Analysis An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy". It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change national security policy. Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade". "It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.