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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" development, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.