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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" 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 former army officer based in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.