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The US government has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the sanctions as a "highly important" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.