Washington Levies Restrictions on Operation Accused of Funneling South American Contractors to Sudan.

The United States has levied restrictions on a network of several persons and entities accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Group Makeup

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

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an revelation that resulted in an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have widely regarded as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the conflict, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those targeted was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities said he had a central role in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the official announcement noted.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the agency stated.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".

She added that, Colombia recently passed a law ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he said. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.