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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the department announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.