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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

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

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.