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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.