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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.