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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

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