🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Sanctions on Operation Accused of Funneling Colombian Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict. The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms. Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings. Discovery of Participation The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training. Activities in Sudan In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Targeted Persons Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses. "The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement. Expert Analysis An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy". It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach. Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors". "It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.