🔗 Share this article

The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four people and four firms alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction implicated in horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, prompted by an report which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges foreign parties to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the department stated.

Reaction

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in international fights and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.