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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.