US Imposes Sanctions Related to the Recruitment of Colombians to Fight with Rapid Support Forces

SadaNews - The United States imposed sanctions late Friday to Saturday on five companies and individuals it said were involved in recruiting former Colombian military personnel to fight for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.

The U.S. Treasury Department stated in a release, "This network has fueled the conflict, leading to one of the worst humanitarian crises and famines in the world."

The department added that the United States urged the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces to accept a three-month humanitarian truce without conditions.

The ongoing fierce war for three years between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has resulted in what relief groups say is now the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The Treasury Department stated that hundreds of former Colombian personnel have gone to Sudan to support the Rapid Support Forces in combat and technical roles, participating in battles across the country.

Among those targeted by the announced sanctions on Friday is Phoenix Human Resources S.A.S, a recruitment agency based in Bogotá, Colombia, its director José Libardo Quijano Torres, and former Colombian army colonel José Oscar García Pat, who owns a recruitment company based in Bogotá, as well as Global Coa Human Resources S.A.S and its director Omar Fernando García Patí.

The sanctions mean that all property and interests belonging to the individuals and companies under sanctions within the United States are frozen.

German Foreign Minister Johan Wadeful announced on Wednesday that an international conference to mobilize funding for Sudan resulted in pledges to provide more than 1.5 billion euros, equivalent to 1.77 billion dollars, in humanitarian aid.

The conference, which followed earlier meetings in London and Paris, aimed to highlight Sudan after global attention has recently shifted towards the conflict in Ukraine and the war in Iran.