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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.