🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Penalties on Network Alleged of Channeling Colombian Mercenaries to the Sudanese Conflict. The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide. Operation Structure Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions. Emergence of Involvement The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education. Activities in Sudan In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way". Sanctioned Individuals Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government said he had a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses. "Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the department announced. Analyst Commentary A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy". Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach. A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade". "This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.