🔗 Share this article United States Enforces Sanctions on Network Alleged of Channeling Colombian Fighters to Sudan. The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts. Network Composition Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia. Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions. Emergence of Involvement The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá. Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education. Role in the Conflict In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way". Targeted Persons Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said. Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his businesses. "The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency said in a statement. Analyst Commentary Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy". It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy. A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade". "This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.