🔗 Share this article

The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

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

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of horrific war crimes including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered the previous year, following an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an revelation that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Role in the Conflict

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Named Entities

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company accused of handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions linked to Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.