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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, following an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.