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The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been contracted to fight – an event that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. One source remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The US authorities accused him a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges outside forces to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" step, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, the Colombian government has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.