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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The government accused him a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.