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The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.