🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of several persons and entities charged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged the previous year, following an report which disclosed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology 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 decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government has enacted a statute endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.