🔗 Share this article

The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities including ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The government said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "very significant" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government recently passed a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape domestic defense strategy.

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

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.