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The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.