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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

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

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.