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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.