🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Penalties on Operation Accused of Recruiting South American Contractors to Sudan. The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide. Network Composition Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions. Discovery of Participation The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government. Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education. Activities in Sudan In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well. Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated. Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies. "The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency announced. Reaction An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go". She added that, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach. Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade". "This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.