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The Washington has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction implicated in severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an report which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.