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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.