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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia 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 businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and change national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.