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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers 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 individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.