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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, following an report which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.