United States Enforces Penalties on Network Alleged of Funneling South American Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict.
The United States has levied restrictions on a operation of four individuals and four companies alleged of recruiting South American contractors to support and educate a Sudanese paramilitary group the United States claims of genocidal acts.
Operation Structure
Revealing the measures on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.
Scores of former Colombian military personnel have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to horrific war crimes such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.
Revelation of Role
The participation of ex-soldiers was first uncovered in 2024, prompted by an report which found that over three hundred ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an unprecedented apology from officials in Bogotá.
Colombian ex-soldiers have widely regarded as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during decades of civil war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and elite military instruction.
Role in the Conflict
In the conflict, the mercenaries have allegedly instructed child soldiers, taught fighters to pilot drones, and fought directly on the frontlines. An individual involved previously stated that working with child soldiers was "terrible and insane" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".
Targeted Persons
Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a individual with dual citizenship and ex-soldier located in the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a central role in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was similarly targeted.
Also on the restricted list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated oversaw a company accused of processing money and salaries for the network. "Recently, American entities connected to Duque conducted multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.
Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have 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 belligerents," the Treasury stated.
Analyst Commentary
An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "major" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".
She added that, the Colombian government ratified a law endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change its security approach.
Sean McFate, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for dealing with widespread use of contractors".
"It operates in the black market and centered in Dubai, which is difficult to penalize," he stated. The UAE has been widely accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," he advised.
