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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.