🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which found that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to participate in the war – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The government said he had a pivotal function in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "major" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform national security policy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.