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

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, prompted by an report which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.