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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans 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, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the UAE. The US authorities said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, described the measures as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.