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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.