United States Enforces Penalties on Network Alleged of Recruiting Colombian Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict.

The Washington has enforced penalties on a network of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Operation Structure

Revealing the measures on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction accused of horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.

Revelation of Role

The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light the previous year, following an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been contracted to participate in the war – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during years of internal conflict, training on Western military gear, and elite military instruction.

Activities in Sudan

In Sudan, the contractors have been accused of teaching minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that training children was "awful and crazy" but added that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury accused him a central role in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms connected to Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement said.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions linked to Duque and his operations.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury stated.

Reaction

An expert, from a conflict think tank, labeled the sanctions as a "major" milestone, saying that "identifying the recruiters is the correct approach".

It was also noted that, Bogotá ratified a piece of legislation ratifying the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change its security approach.

Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.