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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The Treasury accused him a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.