🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Penalties on Network Accused of Funneling South American Contractors to Sudan. The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide. Network Composition Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms. Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings. Emergence of Involvement The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá. Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction. Reported Actions In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is". Sanctioned Individuals Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The government said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned. Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted. Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers associated with Duque and his operations. "The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department said in a statement. Analyst Commentary A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go". Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and change national security policy. Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors". "This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.