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The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, after an inquiry which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.