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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in 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 also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the department stated.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.