🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which disclosed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the UAE. The Treasury alleged he played a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who officials alleged managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the agency said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "major" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a piece of legislation ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It operates in the black market and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.