🔗 Share this article

The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies.

Numerous of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Emergence of Involvement

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, following an investigation which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to fight – an event that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during decades of civil war, training on Nato equipment, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played 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 Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the government release noted.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "very significant" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government recently passed a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.