New documentary film features The Sentry’s findings, explores corrupt links between South Sudan’s civil war and officials and businesses in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia
October 9, 2018 (Washington, DC) – A new investigative Africa Uncensored documentary, “The Profiteers,” featuring in part The Sentry’s investigative findings, explores linkages between South Sudan’s civil war and the operations of businesspeople, financial institutions, and government and military officials in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
In its latest Alert, The Sentry details how, collectively, these findings show that the corrupt elites responsible for South Sudan’s war rely on support and facilitation from the country’s neighbors and the broader international financial system.
Brian Adeba, Deputy Director of Policy at the Enough Project, said: “The egregious corruption fueling the war in South Sudan is enabled by the actions of regional collaborators. More than ever, governments in the region must play their part in stemming this corruption to help stop the bloodshed in South Sudan.”
J.R. Mailey, Director of Investigations at The Sentry, said: “Banks, businessmen, and governments throughout East Africa are intimately linked to South Sudan's corruption-fueled civil war. These actors have immense leverage but, to date, have used this leverage to preserve a problematic status quo rather than to promote peace, good governance, and human rights.”
The Sentry’s findings highlighted in the documentary include:
- President Kiir’s Lakehouse in Ethiopia. The Sentry has identified and photographed a lake house in a resort town in Ethiopia reportedly belonging to President Salva Kiir.
- Stephen Dhieu Dau’s Home in Uganda. The Sentry has identified a home purchased by former Minister of Petroleum Stephen Dhieu Dau in Kampala in 2015.
- Facilitators of Weapons Deals. Documents obtained by The Sentry show the role of LOID Investments—owned by businessmen who operate in South Sudan and Uganda—in facilitating a legal but controversial arms shipment to the government of South Sudan in 2015.
- Use of Ugandan and Kenyan Banks. The Sentry has documented and reported numerous questionable transactions involving top officials from South Sudan and banks in Uganda and Kenya.
The Alert recommends key steps that can be taken by governments and financial institutions in the region to ensure their role is one that promotes peace rather than ongoing violence, corruption, and human suffering in South Sudan.
Joshua White, Director of Policy and Analysis at The Sentry, said: “As demonstrated by the U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker's visit to Kenya and Uganda in June, there is increasing concern by U.S. regulators and financial institutions about the exploitation of these countries' financial systems by South Sudanese elites, who use Kenya and Uganda as a gateway to access the international financial system. We call on the governments of Kenya and Uganda, as well as those countries' banks, to take greater action to stop the laundering of illicitly-obtained wealth from South Sudan.”
The Sentry recommends:
- Kenya and Uganda should strengthen regulatory bodies to track money and enforce sanctions.
- Banks should apply heightened scrutiny to South Sudan transactions.
- Law enforcement should investigate South Sudanese property without political interference.
- Trade associations should improve standards for investments.
- Businesspeople should share investment information.
Click here to read The Sentry’s Alert.
Click here to watch Africa Uncensored’s three-part documentary on YouTube.
For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Greg Hittelman, Director of Communications, +1 310 717 0606,
About THE SENTRY
The Sentry is composed of financial forensic investigators, policy analysts, and regional experts who follow the dirty money and build investigative cases focusing on the corrupt transnational networks most responsible for Africa’s deadliest conflicts. By creating a significant financial cost to these kleptocrats through network sanctions, anti-money laundering measures, prosecutions, and other tools, The Sentry aims to disrupt the profit incentives for mass atrocities and oppression, and creates new leverage in support of peace efforts and African frontline human rights defenders. The Sentry’s partner, the Enough Project, undertakes high-level advocacy with policy-makers around the world as well as wide-reaching education campaigns by mobilizing students, faith-based groups, celebrities, and others. Co-founded by George Clooney and John Prendergast, The Sentry is an initiative of Not On Our Watch (NOOW) and the Enough Project. The Sentry currently focuses its work in South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and the Central African Republic.
In less than two years, The Sentry has created hard-hitting reports and converted extensive research into a large volume of dossiers on individuals and entities connected to grand corruption, violence, or serious human rights abuses. The investigative team has turned those dossiers over to government regulatory and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and around the world, as well as to compliance officers at the world’s largest banks.
Learn more at www.TheSentry.org.
Newer articles:
- Defending a corrupt politician is like defending a Devil against Almighty God. A response to Mathiang Jalap's article on Dr Chol Deng Thon - 27/10/2018 12:10
- Investigative Report: The Sentry Exposes Pervasive Risks, Political Control in South Sudan Banking Sector - 24/10/2018 15:41
- Is corruption promotion an objective of NILEPET? - 22/10/2018 21:25
- Condemnation message on the burning of Gogrial State Governor's house in Mayom Chol Payam, Ajoko County - 15/10/2018 09:11
- Why a kite is not rich? Corruption and its consequences in S Sudan - 11/10/2018 09:24
Older news items
- Breaking: South Sudan Peace Deal Signed Today – Fails to Address Corruption at Root of Conflict - 13/09/2018 12:08
- John Prendergast Briefs Security Council in First-Ever Session on Corruption and Conflict - 10/09/2018 21:13
- John Prendergast to Address UN Security Council in First-Ever Session on Nexus Between Corruption and Conflict - 06/09/2018 20:45
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : South Sudanese General Travels to China Despite UN Travel Ban - 16/08/2018 10:02
- MEDIA ALERT - Sudan’s Ruling Party Removes Presidential Term Limits - 10/08/2018 22:45
Latest news items (all categories):
- علاقة عقيمة من طرف واحد - 12/04/2024 01:25
- Press Release - International poetry initiative seeks poems on African experiences of migration - 04/04/2024 23:28
- South Sudan oil revenue dwindles - 31/03/2024 00:46
- The decline of Equatoria and emergence of Jieng tribal power in South Sudan - 30/03/2024 23:10
- Both SPLM-IG's No-extension and SPLM-IO's Extension Proposals are all means for No 2024 Elections - 24/03/2024 23:14
Random articles (all categories):
- Landlocked South Sudan says it has reached a deal with Sudan over oil ... - Minneapolis Star Tribune - 04/08/2012 08:18
- شلو الي اين؟ - 07/06/2010 16:15
- South Sudan’s oil and water give it bargaining power – but will it benefit the people? - 21/02/2023 08:30
- Britain must keep up pressure to end conflict in Sudan - 20/04/2023 02:23
- Dashed hopes as South Sudan turns 9 - 10/07/2020 04:34
Popular articles:
- The Final Communique of SPLM-DC Third Session of the National Council - 29/03/2011 01:00 - Read 74964 times
- Roles and Definition of Political Parties - 29/04/2011 01:00 - Read 59131 times
- Agriculture in Southern Sudan: Challenges and Investment Opportunities - 06/10/2010 01:45 - Read 40556 times
- Fashoda Youth Forum Rehabilitation of Drainage Culverts in Malakal town Report - 07/08/2008 16:22 - Read 28892 times
- Dozens of gunmen on horseback ambush peacekeepers - 24/05/2008 13:47 - Read 25805 times