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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

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

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

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

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.