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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

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

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.