Washington Levies Sanctions on Group Accused of Channeling Colombian Contractors to the Sudanese Conflict.
The United States has imposed sanctions on a group of four people and four firms alleged of enlisting South American contractors to combat alongside and instruct a armed faction in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.
Operation Structure
Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the American treasury stated the scheme was primarily made up of Colombian citizens and firms.
Numerous of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction accused of terrible atrocities such as ethnically targeted slaughter and mass abductions.
Revelation of Role
The involvement of Colombian fighters first came to light the previous year, following an investigation which revealed that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to participate in the war – an discovery that led to an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.
Former Colombian military have long been considered as some of the most in-demand contractors globally due to their vast combat experience gleaned from a long-running domestic war, training on advanced weaponry, and superior tactical education.
Reported Actions
In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, instructed militiamen in drone operation, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but commented that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".
Named Entities
Among those targeted was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a dual Colombian-Italian national and former army officer operating from the Dubai. The government said he had a key part in hiring and sending mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was also sanctioned.
Also on the sanctions list was Mateo Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who officials alleged ran a firm implicated in handling funds and payroll for the scheme. "Recently, companies in the United States associated with Duque engaged in numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions," the Treasury statement noted.
Colombian national Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the entity she oversaw accused of financial transactions associated with Duque and his operations.
"Washington reiterates its demand for foreign parties to cease providing financial and military support to the belligerents," the department said in a statement.
Reaction
A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, called the measures as a "highly important" development, noting that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the proper strategy".
She added that, the Colombian government ratified a piece of legislation approving the anti-mercenary convention, aiming to curb years of participation by its nationals in overseas wars and change its security approach.
Another expert, an expert on mercenaries, urged more caution, saying that "restrictions are needed but not enough for addressing rampant mercenarism".
"This is a shadow economy and centered in Dubai, which is relatively sanction-proof," he commented. The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, allegations it disputes. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," he advised.
