🔗 Share this article

The Washington has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force implicated in terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an investigation which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and ex-soldier based in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury said he had a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed said to have conducted money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing funding and arms to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "very significant" development, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá has enacted a law endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb its citizens' long history in overseas wars and change national security policy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.