🔗 Share this article

The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group implicated in terrible atrocities such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, after an report which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the firm she operated alleged to have financial transactions associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

She added that, the Colombian government has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.