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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, following an report which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.