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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an investigation which revealed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Reaction

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

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.