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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of terrible atrocities encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

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 scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.