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The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.