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The Washington has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force linked to terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been contracted to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier located in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "highly important" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change national security policy.

Another expert, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.