🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies charged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a force linked to horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered last year, following an investigation which found that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary previously stated that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer operating from the UAE. The government said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business accused of managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque conducted several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release stated.

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

"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the combatants," the department announced.

Expert Analysis

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and based out of the UAE, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.