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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.