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The United States has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans 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, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.