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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

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, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.