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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an investigation which found that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.