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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four people and four firms charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

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

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.