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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Colombia ratified a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.