🔗 Share this article US Imposes Sanctions on Operation Alleged of Funneling South American Fighters to Sudan. The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies. Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions. Emergence of Involvement The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá. Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction. Activities in Sudan In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned. Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement stated. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies. "Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced. Analyst Commentary A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach". Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach. Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade". "It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.