Breaking: US Imposes Sanctions On South Sudan’s Preferred Business Partners
The official Emblem of the U.S Department of State (Source: US Department of Sate Website)
Oct 11th, 2019 (SSNN)-For days, after The Sentry accused a Sudanese businessman, Ashraf Seed Ahmed Al-Cardinal widely known as Al-Cardinal, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed individual sanctions on Ashraf Seed Ahmed Al-Cardinal (Al-Cardinal) and Kur Ajing Ater (Ajing) for their role and involvement in corruption in South Sudan.
In the past few days, The Sentry has released an investigative report, accusing Al-cardinal of investing millions of US dollars in suspicious businesses in South Sudan.
The Sudanese businessman whose business has always been implicated in a number of procurement scandals, was identified last week by The Sentry’s investigators as one of Salva Kiir’s preferred business partners.
“OFAC designated these individuals and entities pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption. Today’s action demonstrates continued U.S. commitment to prevent and combat corruption globally,” the White House said on Friday.
The Trump Administration noted that the two businessmen targeted by the US have benefitted off South Sudan’s conflict as millions of the population face food insecurity all over the country.
“The corrupt activities of these individuals robbed critical resources from a war-torn country. The population of South Sudan faces food insecurity, and an estimated one-third of South Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes.”
The U.S calls on South Sudan’s government to declare war against corruption and hold those responsible to account.
“We urge the Government of South Sudan to take seriously the clear linkage between corrupt activities and the motive of some elites to disrupt the peace agreement, the implementation of which has reached a critical stage.”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also targeted five companies believed to be owned by Al-Cardinal and one company controlled by Ajing.
Facebook Comments