The Sentry

Since Rwanda invaded?eastern?DRC?with troops and support for M23, it has exported over $800 million in illicit gold, including from Congolese mines now controlled by the M23. The US and UK should follow the lead of the European Union and sanction conflict gold traders. Banks and jewelers should also red flag Rwanda-exported gold, including gold going to the UAE. https://lnkd.in/e9d26a2T

We are immensely grateful for the generous support from players of People's Postcode Lottery. Thank you for standing with The Sentry in the fight against conflict and corruption. The longstanding funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery has enabled The Sentry to deliver impact through in-depth investigations, targeted policy interventions, and innovative storytelling. Together, we can uphold justice, human rights, and a future built on integrity and compassion.

Join us in welcoming Justyna Gudzowska as The Sentry’s new executive director! With two decades of experience spanning the United States government, the private sector, and civil society, Justyna brings unparalleled expertise to The Sentry’s mission of exposing and disrupting the illicit financial networks fueling conflict and repression. Her return to The Sentry marks a full-circle moment. She previously served as our director of Illicit Finance Policy, where she led a globally dispersed team, engaged in high-level advocacy with governments, testified before Congress, and contributed policy analysis to outlets such as Foreign Affairs and Politico. Justyna is a powerful force in the fight against corruption and illicit finance and her appointment underscores our deepened commitment to equipping policymakers, financial institutions, and law enforcement with the intelligence necessary to hold perpetrators accountable. “I am deeply honored that the board has chosen me to lead The Sentry into its next chapter and work with our talented staff to counter illicit finance around the globe,” said Justyna. “The Sentry has an incredibly important role to play because it offers something truly unique, combining cutting-edge policy analysis with actionable intelligence through groundbreaking investigative work.” In a challenging moment for efforts to counter corruption, human rights abuses, and conflict around the world, The Sentry is fortunate to have Justyna at our helm. https://lnkd.in/etgxkFxv

Have you explored our new open-data platform, Atlas? Atlas illuminates the business empires, facilitators, and financing mechanisms of global networks of #kleptocrats, conflict financiers, and war profiteers. Each Atlas project has an interactive visualization tool, a searchable database, expert analysis, and detailed profiles of individuals and entities. Dig into the data here: atlas.thesentry.org

The United Arab Emirates sponsors some of your favorite sports events, teams, and concerts. Meanwhile, it’s also sponsoring mass atrocities in Sudan. Why? Hear more from Don Cheadle. Visit www.speakoutonsudan.org to learn more. #speakoutonsudan #keepeyesonsudan #handsoffsudan #refugees #uae #dubai #uaegold #uaesudan

???? Libya: New greed-driven schemes in Derna’s ongoing reconstruction could lead to yet another catastrophe. Our new report sheds light on the corrupt operations that contributed to the deadly disaster in #Derna and reveals renewed signs of abuse and fund misappropriation in Derna’s reconstruction. Explore it here >> https://lnkd.in/gfVN6aHb

Join LSEG Academy next week for a deep dive into corporate #kleptocracy, including insights from The Sentry's Investigations Manager, Michelle Kendler-Kretsch. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eHSYg89Q

#Kiirdom: South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has built an extensive business empire for himself and his family. The empire includes over one hundred companies, high profile politicians from around the region, and minors as company owners. For the first time, we’ve compiled all our investigative data on the Kiir family network into one interactive visual. You can now see the business empire in one place, search the data, and download all of the information. Explore “Kiirdom” here ? https://lnkd.in/gBCKkGey

First up from our #AzerbaijanEnablers report: the banks. In the course of building their empire, Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva had extensive interactions with banks. According to The Sentry’s research, the sisters held accounts with at least five banks in four jurisdictions and even became the beneficial owners of PASHA Bank, which has branches in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. They moved money through numerous other banks, where their transactions were flagged as suspicious on several occasions, prompting investigations by financial regulators into anti-money laundering failures and sometimes resulting in large fines. Given these ties, banks have unquestionably been vital to the establishment of the Aliyeva sisters’ business empire. However, several of those banks appear to have knowingly accepted questionable funds or willingly turned a blind eye. The banks are: ? Pilatus Bank ? Banque Haviland ? PASHA Bank Dig into our report to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gxtrvbmz #Enablers #AliyevEmpire #Banks #AntiMoneyLaundering #AML #COP29

?? Breaking: Our new report reveals the enablers supporting the Aliyev family business empire.????? Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, the daughters of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, sit atop a $13 billion kleptocratic family empire comprising a network of businesses and assets spanning more than 12 countries. But they couldn’t have built this empire without a global cohort of law firms, banks, and highly placed individuals that have enabled its operations and growth. Our new report examines these enablers in detail, exposing how and when they have contributed to the Aliyev Empire. Explore the details: https://lnkd.in/ePj_z5WN #Azerbaijan #Enablers #AliyevEmpire #Kleptocracy