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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.