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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an investigation which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

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

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.