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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an report which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.