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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.