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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an report which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the measures as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.