🔗 Share this article US Imposes Sanctions on Network Accused of Funneling Colombian Contractors to Sudan. The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide. Network Composition Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms. Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings. Discovery of Participation The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, prompted by an investigation which found that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government. These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction. Reported Actions In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations. "Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department said in a statement. Expert Analysis A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy". Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy. A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade". "It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.