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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.