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The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies accused of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred former soldiers had been contracted to fight – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "major" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," 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.