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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities accused of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, prompted by an report which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The government said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.