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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged in 2024, prompted by an inquiry which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that training children was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.