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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, 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 conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, after an investigation which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

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

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.