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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

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

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.