🔗 Share this article US Imposes Penalties on Operation Accused of Channeling Colombian Mercenaries to the Sudanese Conflict. The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms. Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions. Emergence of Involvement The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry. These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training. Reported Actions In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict". Targeted Persons Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said. Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies. "Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement. Expert Analysis An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy". Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy. A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade". "It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.