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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The government said he had a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

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 businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.