Enough Project - Congress members Urge Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to Target Kleptocratic Leaders Behind War and Famine in South Sudan

Republicans and Democrats join in letter to Treasury Department calling for use of anti-money laundering measures and targeted sanctions targeting corrupt networks

Washington, D.C. (May 9, 2017) –  Yesterday, a group of bipartisan Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, urging him to "play a leading role in utilizing the full range of financial tools at the United States' disposal to target the corrupt and kleptocratic networks at the core of South Sudan's civil war."

The letter was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Karen Bass (D-CA), Sudan and South Sudan Caucus Co-Chairs Barbara Lee (D-CA), Tom Rooney (R-FL), and Michael Capuano (D-MA), Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chair Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ).

The Enough Project commends these Members of Congress for this action and their leadership.

John Prendergast, Founding Director at the Enough Project, said: “Congress has a long, bipartisan history of supporting the people of Sudan and South Sudan. As the worst of the violence in South Sudan continues after three years, marked most recently by a famine declaration, Members of Congress are now continuing that tradition. These Congressional leaders are making clear that war crimes in South Sudan shouldn't pay, and that the United States will go after the wealth of those most responsible for and enabling atrocities."

Ian Schwab, Director of Advocacy and Impact Strategy at the Enough Project, said: “The people of South Sudan have suffered war and famine while a small elite lives comfortably from stolen resources that should be used for the country's development. Today's bipartisan letter directed at Treasury Secretary Mnuchin underscores the prominent role that Treasury can play in helping to build leverage for peace. We commend the Congressional leaders that continue year after year to demonstrate their focus and commitment to South Sudan ensuring that it remains a priority for the United States.”

The letter recognizes the key role the Treasury department can play in support an end to the conflict, acknowledging that “Fully utilizing anti-money laundering laws and targeted sanctions against high level targets and their business networks will protect the U.S. dollar and banks from being used to facilitate corruption, conflict, and terrorism while creating leverage to implement the U.S. government's strategy for peace.”

Click here to read the letter.

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Greg Hittelman, Director of Communications, +1 310 717 0606, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About THE ENOUGH PROJECT

The Enough Project, an atrocity prevention research and policy non-profit organization, builds leverage for peace and human rights in Africa’s deadliest conflict zones by working to create real consequences for the perpetrators and facilitators of genocide and other mass atrocities. Enough, and its investigative partner The Sentry, aims to counter armed groups and violent kleptocratic regimes that are fueled by grand corruption, transnational crime and terror, and the pillaging and trafficking of ivory, gold, diamonds, conflict minerals, and other natural resources. Enough conducts field research in conflict zones, develops and advocates for policy recommendations, and mobilizes public campaigns. Learn more – and join us – at www.EnoughProject.org.