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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, following an report which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.