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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to fight – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.