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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government 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 transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.