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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.