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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.