🔗 Share this article

The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, following an report which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged managed a business accused of handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the department stated.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "very significant" development, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".

Furthermore, the Colombian government recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.