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The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.