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The US government has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" development, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

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