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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

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

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.