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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.