🔗 Share this article

The US government has levied restrictions on a group of several persons and entities alleged of enlisting South American contractors to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan that Washington accuses of committing genocide.

Network Composition

Announcing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the network was largely composed of Colombian citizens and firms.

Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to go to the Sudanese warzone to fight alongside the Sudanese RSF militia, a force implicated in horrific war crimes such as massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.

Revelation of Role

The involvement of Colombian fighters initially emerged in 2024, after an report which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an unprecedented apology from the Colombian government.

These South American veterans have historically been seen as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their considerable warzone knowledge resulting from a long-running domestic war, knowledge of Western military gear, and high-level combat training.

Reported Actions

In the Sudanese theater, the contractors have allegedly instructed minors, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and fought directly on the frontlines. A mercenary remarked that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and former army officer located in the Dubai. The Treasury said he had a pivotal function in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Oliveros, was penalized as well.

Also on the sanctions list was Duque Botero, a dual national who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to managing finances and payments for the recruitment operation. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, totalling millions of US dollars," the government release said.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the other individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw said to have conducted financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.

"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the warring parties," the agency said in a statement.

Reaction

An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" milestone, noting that "identifying the recruiters is the proper strategy".

It was also noted that, Bogotá has enacted a law approving the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in overseas wars and transform national security policy.

A mercenary specialist, a scholar on the subject, called for greater wariness, noting that "restrictions are needed but not enough for dealing with the growing mercenary trade".

"It’s an illicit economy and centered in Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.