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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an report which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.