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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "major" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.