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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.