🔗 Share this article

The United States has levied restrictions on a group of four individuals and four companies alleged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

Disclosing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been contracted to participate in the war – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier operating from the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in enlisting and transporting former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the network. "Recently, companies in the United States linked to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.

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

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "highly important" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating widespread use of contractors".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.