🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Sanctions on Group Accused of Recruiting South American Fighters to Sudan. The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide. Group Makeup Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms. Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions. Emergence of Involvement The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá. These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training. Role in the Conflict In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses. "Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department stated. Reaction An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach". Furthermore, Colombia ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy. Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors". "It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.