🔗 Share this article

The Washington has imposed sanctions on a network of four individuals and four companies charged of hiring South American contractors to support and educate a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the scheme was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group accused of terrible atrocities such as massacres based on ethnicity and large-scale abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, after an investigation which revealed that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from years of internal conflict, familiarity with Western military gear, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In Sudan, the mercenaries have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. One source previously stated that instructing minors was "horrific and irrational" but added that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Named Entities

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer based in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the fourth individual to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw alleged to have money transfers associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, called the actions as a "major" step, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Colombia recently passed a piece of legislation endorsing the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been widely accused of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.