🔗 Share this article

The US government has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, following an investigation which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business linked to processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

She added that, Colombia ratified a piece of legislation endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, 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 the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.