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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, following an inquiry which found that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "major" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.