🔗 Share this article US Imposes Penalties on Operation Alleged 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 support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide. Operation Structure Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions. Discovery of Participation The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training. Role in the Conflict In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned. Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies. "The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury announced. Expert Analysis A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "major" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach". Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape its security approach. Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors". "It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.