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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, after an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the UAE. The government said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.