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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, following an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.