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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which found that hundreds of former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.