🔗 Share this article

The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to fight – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have reportedly trained underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer operating from the UAE. The government said he had a central role in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the Treasury statement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed said to have conducted wire transfers linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," the expert cautioned.