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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights 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 dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.