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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.