🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Penalties on Network Alleged of Recruiting South American Fighters to Sudan. The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Revealing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies. Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings. Emergence of Involvement The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training. Role in the Conflict In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Named Entities Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted. Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release stated. Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations. "The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury announced. Analyst Commentary An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach". She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy. Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors". "It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.