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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.