🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Sanctions on Group Alleged of Channeling South American Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict. The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide. Network Composition Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions. Revelation of Role The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education. Reported Actions In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted. Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies. "The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the department stated. Analyst Commentary A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy". It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy. A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism". "It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.