🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to severe violations encompassing targeted ethnic killings and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to participate in the war – an event that prompted an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "very significant" step, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Colombia recently passed a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.