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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

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 participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.