BREAKING: U.S. Sanctions Individuals Linked to Killing of South Sudan Human Rights Activists Dong Samuel and Aggrey Idri

The Sentry Lauds Action, Calls for Perpetrators to Face Justice

December 10, 2019 (Washington, DC) – The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new set of sanctions today, including actions against five individuals responsible for the abduction and murder of two South Sudanese human rights activists in 2017, Dong Samuel and Aggrey Idri.

JR Mailey, Director of Investigations at The Sentry, said: "The people who abducted and murdered Dong Samuel and Aggrey Idri believed they could operate with impunity. They were wrong. The actions by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to place sanctions on this network creates consequences for these crimes for the first time. But this is just one step on the pathway to accountability. Real justice will require the perpetrators of these crimes to be tried in a court of law. U.S. and other stakeholders’ policy toward South Sudan should be guided by the goal of supporting institutions in South Sudan and the region that will impartially gather evidence and prosecute cases without fear of political interference. The people who facilitated their illegal deportation from Kenya should also be investigated and held to account. Until that time, the U.S. government should continue to use the powers at its disposal to impose consequences against those who seek to harm or silence human rights defenders."

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