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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, after an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.