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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

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

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.