🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on this week, the American treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force accused of horrific war crimes encompassing targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries initially emerged last year, prompted by an inquiry which disclosed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary remarked that training children was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The government said he had a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, worth millions," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed accused of money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the belligerents," the Treasury said in a statement.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "highly important" milestone, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law approving the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in foreign conflicts and transform its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.