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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release said.

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 external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.