US Imposes Penalties on Network Accused of Funneling South American Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict.
The US government has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of hiring South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group that Washington accuses of committing genocide.
Group Makeup
Disclosing the sanctions on this week, the Treasury stated the operation was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.
Scores of retired Colombian troops have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group accused of severe violations including targeted ethnic killings and widespread kidnappings.
Revelation of Role
The participation of ex-soldiers initially emerged last year, after an inquiry which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been hired to engage in combat – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from the Colombian government.
Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, training on advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.
Role in the Conflict
In the Sudanese theater, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed minors, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source remarked that instructing minors was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".
Targeted Persons
Among those targeted was a dual national, a individual with dual citizenship and former army officer located in the United Arab Emirates. The US authorities said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries 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 officials alleged ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.
Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.
"Washington reiterates its demand for outside forces to halt the flow of monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.
Analyst Commentary
An expert, with the International Crisis Group, described the actions as a "very significant" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".
It was also noted that, Bogotá recently passed a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape domestic defense strategy.
A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".
"It operates in the black market and operating from the UAE, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.
