🔗 Share this article

The United States has enforced penalties on a group of several persons and entities alleged of recruiting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the network was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to combat beside the Sudanese RSF militia, a faction linked to severe violations encompassing ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries first came to light in 2024, prompted by an investigation which revealed that over three hundred retired troops had been contracted to fight – an discovery that resulted in an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and elite military instruction.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the mercenaries have reportedly trained minors, provided drone warfare training, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but commented that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the UAE. The US authorities accused him a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.

Also on the penalty list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated oversaw a company implicated in processing money and salaries for the recruitment operation. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release stated.

Individual Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be sanctioned, with the entity she oversaw accused of money transfers linked to Duque and his businesses.

"The United States again calls on external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.

Expert Analysis

An expert, from a conflict think tank, called the actions as a "highly important" development, noting that "targeting the enablers is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, the Colombian government ratified a statute approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in international fights and transform its security approach.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, advised additional measures, stating that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he said. The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," the expert cautioned.