🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an investigation which found that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business implicated in managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, Bogotá has enacted a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," the expert cautioned.