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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, following an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers 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 the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

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

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.