US puts sanctions on network said to funnel Colombian mercenaries to Sudan

"The United States has sanctioned four people and four companies accused of enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a Sudanese paramilitary group accused by Washington of committing genocide. Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, the US treasury said the network was largely composed of Colombian nationals and companies. Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have travelled to Sudan to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has committed horrific war crimes including ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions."

"The Colombians' involvement first emerged last year, when an investigation by the Bogota-based outlet La Silla Vacia found that more than 300 former soldiers had been contracted to fight prompting an unprecedented apology by Colombia's foreign ministry. Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered among the world's most sought-after mercenaries due to their extensive battlefield experience gleaned from the country's decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and high-level combat training."

The United States sanctioned four people and four companies for enlisting Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, accused of genocide. Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel traveled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF, which committed ethnically targeted slaughter and large-scale abductions. More than 300 former soldiers were reportedly contracted, prompting Colombia's foreign ministry apology. Colombian ex-soldiers are sought for battlefield experience, NATO equipment familiarity and combat training. Colombians reportedly trained child soldiers, taught drone piloting and fought on frontlines. Targeted individuals include Alvaro Quijano Becerra, his wife Claudia Oliveros Forero, and Mateo Duque Botero.

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