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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an inquiry which found that over three hundred former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology 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 decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department announced.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.