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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department announced.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.