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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.