🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities charged of recruiting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to engage in combat – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from decades of civil war, knowledge of Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

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

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "major" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a law endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.