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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an investigation which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.