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The US government has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

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

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a group implicated in severe violations such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the contractors have allegedly instructed underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that training children was "horrific and irrational" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The government accused him a pivotal function in hiring and sending ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged managed a business implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and change domestic defense strategy.

A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "penalties are required yet incomplete for addressing the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been frequently alleged of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.