🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, following an report which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an revelation that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia has enacted a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.