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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

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

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and change national security policy.

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

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.