🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light last year, following an investigation which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an discovery that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.

Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from decades of civil war, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. One source was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "major" step, saying that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, designed to limit its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform domestic defense strategy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.