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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The government accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement said.

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

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a statute ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.