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The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that training children was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The government alleged he played a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

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