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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" step, noting 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 years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.