🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Penalties on Operation Alleged of Channeling Colombian Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict. The United States has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms accused of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts. Operation Structure Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions. Discovery of Participation The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá. Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction. Activities in Sudan In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted. Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "In 2024 and 2025, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted. Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his operations. "The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency announced. Expert Analysis An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach". It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy. Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism". "It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.