🔗 Share this article

The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the American treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in terrible atrocities encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Emergence of Involvement

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have long been considered as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the measures as a "highly important" milestone, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a statute approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.