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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

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

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, after an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.