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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to severe violations such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, after an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government alleged he played a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.