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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, after an investigation which found that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "very significant" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.