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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

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

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an investigation which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered 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.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "major" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.