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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

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

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, called the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.