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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" 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 former army officer located in the UAE. The government said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.