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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an investigation which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.