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The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of four people and four firms accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to severe violations including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.