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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.