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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.