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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "major" step, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.