🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Restrictions on Network Accused of Recruiting Colombian Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict. The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions. Revelation of Role The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá. 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, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction. Role in the Conflict In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned. Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses. "Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced. Expert Analysis A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go". Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy. A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism". "It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.