🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

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

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to engage in combat – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a key part in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the department stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.