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The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The government said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" step, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.