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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, following an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called 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, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.