🔗 Share this article US Imposes Restrictions on Operation Alleged of Recruiting South American Contractors to Sudan. The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings. Discovery of Participation The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an inquiry which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education. Role in the Conflict In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies. "The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement. Analyst Commentary An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go". She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy. Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade". "It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.