🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Restrictions on Network Accused of Recruiting South American Mercenaries to the Sudanese Conflict. The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts. Operation Structure Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings. Revelation of Role The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training. Reported Actions In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Named Entities Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted. Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the government release stated. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations. "The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency announced. Analyst Commentary A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach". She added that, Bogotá recently passed a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy. Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism". "This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.