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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.