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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, after an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency stated.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with 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".

She added that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.