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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth 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 outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE 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.