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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The government said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.