đ Share this article US Imposes Penalties on Network Accused of Recruiting South American Contractors to Sudan. The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide. Operation Structure Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings. Revelation of Role The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight â an event that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government. These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the worldâs most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training. Role in the Conflict In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately thatâs how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those penalized was Ălvaro AndrĂ©s Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted. Also on the penalty list was Mateo AndrĂ©s Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement said. Citizen of Colombia MĂłnica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his companies. "The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency stated. Reaction A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy". It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy. Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade". "It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.