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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.