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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, after an report which found that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia ratified a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.