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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms accused of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to fight – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "major" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and change its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.