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The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.