🔗 Share this article Washington Levies Penalties on Operation Accused of Recruiting Colombian Fighters to Sudan. The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts. Group Makeup Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions. Revelation of Role The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which found that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry. Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction. Role in the Conflict In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way". Named Entities Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well. Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted. Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies. "The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement. Reaction Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "major" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach". Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy. Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism". "It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.