🔗 Share this article

The United States has enforced penalties on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to combat alongside and instruct a Sudanese paramilitary group which the US alleges of acts of genocide.

Group Makeup

Announcing the measures on Tuesday, the Treasury stated the operation was mostly comprised of individuals and businesses from Colombia.

Scores of former Colombian military personnel have allegedly journeyed to the Sudanese warzone to combat beside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group linked to horrific war crimes including massacres based on ethnicity and widespread kidnappings.

Discovery of Participation

The role of these mercenaries was first uncovered in 2024, following an inquiry which found that more than 300 former soldiers had been hired to fight – an event that led to an unusual statement of regret from Colombia’s foreign ministry.

Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their extensive battlefield experience acquired during a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.

Role in the Conflict

In the conflict, the contractors have reportedly trained child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and engaged in frontline combat. A mercenary was quoted as saying that working with child soldiers was "horrific and irrational" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".

Sanctioned Individuals

Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the Dubai. The government accused him a key part in recruiting and deploying ex-military personnel to Sudan. His wife, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was similarly targeted.

Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Andrés Duque Botero, a dual national who authorities say ran a firm implicated in processing money and salaries for the scheme. "Over the past two years, American entities connected to Duque carried out several money transfers, amounting to millions," the government release noted.

Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the final person to be penalized, with the company she managed accused of wire transfers associated with Duque and his companies.

"The US once more urges external actors to stop giving monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the agency stated.

Expert Analysis

A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the actions as a "highly important" development, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the correct approach".

Furthermore, Bogotá recently passed a law approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and change national security policy.

Sean McFate, a authority on private military contractors, urged more caution, stating that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing rampant mercenarism".

"It’s an illicit economy and operating from the Emirates, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he stated. The UAE has been frequently alleged of arming the RSF, allegations it disputes. "More contractors from Colombia are likely," he advised.