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The United States has enforced penalties on a network of four individuals and four companies accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of horrific war crimes such as targeted ethnic killings and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to participate in the war – an event that resulted in 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 extensive battlefield experience resulting from decades of civil war, familiarity with Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Activities in Sudan

In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those penalized was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier based in the Dubai. The Treasury alleged he played a key part in recruiting and deploying former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The United States again calls on outside forces to halt the flow of financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, from a conflict think tank, described the actions as a "very significant" milestone, stating that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and reshape national security policy.

Another expert, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.