The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting former Colombian soldiers to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of acts of genocide.
Announcing the restrictions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.
Hundreds of retired Colombian troops have allegedly journeyed to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.
The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, after an inquiry which revealed that more than 300 ex-military personnel had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.
These South American veterans have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.
In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".
Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the Dubai. The government accused him a key part in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.
Also on the penalty list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who officials alleged oversaw a company accused of managing finances and payments for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.
Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be penalized, with the company she managed alleged to have financial transactions connected to Duque and his businesses.
"Washington reiterates its demand for external actors to halt the flow of funding and arms to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.
An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" milestone, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".
It was also noted that, Colombia ratified a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and transform its security approach.
Another expert, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".
"It operates in the black market and based out of Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.
Escritora y analista cultural con experiencia en medios internacionales, apasionada por explorar cómo las ideas locales impactan en el mundo.
