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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, after an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology 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 resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.