US Imposes Penalties on Operation Accused of Funneling South American Mercenaries to Sudan.
The United States has levied restrictions on a network of four people and four firms accused of hiring former Colombian soldiers to fight for and train a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.
Group Makeup
Revealing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was primarily made up of individuals and businesses from Colombia.
Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a group implicated in terrible atrocities including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.
Revelation of Role
The participation of ex-soldiers first came to light last year, prompted by an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of retired troops had been recruited to fight – an revelation that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.
These South American veterans have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.
Role in the Conflict
In Sudan, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and engaged in frontline combat. An individual involved was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "unfortunately that’s how war is".
Sanctioned Individuals
Among those penalized was a retired Colombian officer, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.
Also on the restricted list was Mateo Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who authorities say ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque carried out several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement noted.
Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted wire transfers associated with Duque and his businesses.
"The United States again calls on external actors to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury stated.
Expert Analysis
A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "highly important" step, stating that "identifying the recruiters is the right way to go".
Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform domestic defense strategy.
A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".
"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.
