🔗 Share this article

The US government has enforced penalties on a group of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.

Operation Structure

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

Scores of retired Colombian troops have been recruited to go to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the RSF paramilitary group, a force linked to terrible atrocities including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered in 2024, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been recruited to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from the Colombian government.

Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from a long-running domestic war, familiarity with Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.

Reported Actions

In the conflict, the Colombians have allegedly instructed underage fighters, taught fighters to pilot drones, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Targeted Persons

Among those sanctioned was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who authorities say oversaw a company linked to processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in several money transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement stated.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the firm she operated said to have conducted financial transactions connected to Duque and his companies.

"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to stop giving financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury said in a statement.

Analyst Commentary

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" development, saying that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

Furthermore, Colombia has enacted a statute approving the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in overseas wars and reshape its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, urged more caution, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for combating rampant mercenarism".

"It operates in the black market and centered in the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The Emirati government has been frequently alleged of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," McFate warned.