US Imposes Sanctions on Group Accused of Recruiting South American Mercenaries to Sudan.
The Washington has imposed sanctions on a operation of several persons and entities charged of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to support and educate a militia force in Sudan which the US alleges of acts of genocide.
Operation Structure
Disclosing the restrictions on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department stated the operation was mostly comprised of Colombian nationals and companies.
Scores of ex-soldiers from Colombia have reportedly travelled to the conflict in Sudan to operate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a faction linked to horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions.
Emergence of Involvement
The involvement of Colombian fighters was first uncovered the previous year, prompted by an report which revealed that more than 300 retired troops had been recruited to engage in combat – an discovery that prompted an rare mea culpa from Colombia’s foreign ministry.
Former Colombian military have historically been seen as highly prized fighters in conflict zones due to their considerable warzone knowledge acquired during years of internal conflict, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.
Activities in Sudan
In the conflict, the Colombians have been accused of teaching child soldiers, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. An individual involved was quoted as saying that instructing minors was "awful and crazy" but noted that "sadly, that is the nature of conflict".
Named Entities
Among those sanctioned was a dual national, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and ex-soldier operating from the UAE. The US authorities said he had a pivotal function in enlisting and transporting mercenaries to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero, was penalized as well.
Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a individual with Colombian and Spanish citizenship who the Treasury stated managed a business linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Over the past two years, US-based firms associated with Duque engaged in multiple financial transactions, worth millions," the official announcement said.
Citizen of Colombia Mónica Muñoz was the fourth individual to be targeted, with the company she managed alleged to have wire transfers associated with Duque and his operations.
"The US once more urges outside forces to halt the flow of funding and arms to the belligerents," the Treasury announced.
Reaction
A senior analyst, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, labeled the measures as a "major" step, stating that "targeting the enablers is the correct approach".
She added that, Bogotá has enacted a statute ratifying the International Convention Against the Recruitment and Use of Mercenaries, seeking to reduce its citizens' long history in international fights and transform domestic defense strategy.
A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, saying that "sanctions are necessary but insufficient for addressing widespread use of contractors".
"This is a shadow economy and operating from Dubai, which is largely insulated from sanctions," he commented. The UAE has been repeatedly implicated of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. "Expect more Colombian mercenaries," McFate warned.
