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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, 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.