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The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been contracted to fight – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a central role in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

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

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "very significant" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá recently passed a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.