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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.