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The Washington has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the combatants," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.