🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Sanctions on Group Alleged of Funneling Colombian Contractors to Sudan. The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide. Group Makeup Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions. Emergence of Involvement The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training. Activities in Sudan In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way". Sanctioned Individuals Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his companies. "The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency announced. Expert Analysis An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach". She added that, Colombia has enacted a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach. A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors". "This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.