🔗 Share this article

The United States has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

Disclosing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in severe violations encompassing massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that hundreds of retired troops had been hired to fight – an revelation that prompted an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

These South American veterans 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 advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated alleged to have wire transfers connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the agency announced.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, from a conflict think tank, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, 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. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.