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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an investigation which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired 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 extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.