US Imposes Sanctions on Group Alleged of Channeling Colombian Fighters to Sudan.
The US government has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities charged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan which the US alleges of genocidal acts.
Group Makeup
Disclosing the sanctions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.
Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a group linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.
Emergence of Involvement
The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.
Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their vast combat experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, familiarity with advanced weaponry, and high-level combat training.
Role in the Conflict
In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have reportedly trained child soldiers, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved previously stated that training children was "terrible and insane" but added that "unfortunately that’s how war is".
Sanctioned Individuals
Among those sanctioned was a retired Colombian officer, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.
Also on the penalty list was Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say managed a business implicated in handling funds and payroll for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities linked to Duque carried out numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the Treasury statement stated.
Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the other individual to be sanctioned, with the company she managed accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his companies.
"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the combatants," the Treasury stated.
Expert Analysis
An expert, from a conflict think tank, described the sanctions as a "highly important" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the right way to go".
She added that, Colombia ratified a law ratifying the anti-mercenary convention, designed to limit years of participation by its nationals in international fights and change national security policy.
Sean McFate, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with rampant mercenarism".
"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the UAE, which is relatively sanction-proof," he stated. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.
