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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.