🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Penalties on Group Accused of Recruiting South American Contractors to Sudan. The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide. Network Composition Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings. Revelation of Role The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government. These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction. Role in the Conflict In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned. Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his operations. "The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement. Reaction An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go". Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy. Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors". "It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.