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The US government has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force accused of horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, following an investigation which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that training children was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.