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The Washington has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations such as massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered last year, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm accused of managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.