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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, following an report which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.