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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, after an report which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.