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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an inquiry which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

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

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.