🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to horrific war crimes encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, following an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those penalized was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the UAE. The US authorities alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.