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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.