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The United States has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "highly important" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

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

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.