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The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms charged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an event that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "In 2024 and 2025, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.