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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, following an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

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

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.