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The United States has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, after an report which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The government said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a statute ratifying 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, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing 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 frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.