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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.