🔗 Share this article

The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms accused of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.

Network Composition

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

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged last year, after an report which disclosed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer based in the United Arab Emirates. The government alleged he played a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company implicated in managing finances and payments for the scheme. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing funding and arms to the warring parties," the department announced.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "major" milestone, stating that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

She added that, Bogotá ratified a statute endorsing the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with widespread use of contractors".

"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, claims it rejects. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.