🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an investigation which disclosed that hundreds of former soldiers had been hired to fight – an revelation that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the UAE. The Treasury said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "highly important" development, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape its security approach.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, advised additional measures, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for combating widespread use of contractors".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.