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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities charged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.