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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, after an investigation which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

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

Reaction

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

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation 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 its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.