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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.