Experts available: Pope’s Visit to South Sudan Tomorrow

Pope Francis to Visit South Sudan Tomorrow, Meet With President Kiir

Experts from The Sentry Available for Comment and Interview

February 2, 2023 (Washington, DC) — Tomorrow Pope Francis will travel to South Sudan and meet with President Salva Kiir, following a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Experts at The Sentry are available for comment and interview.

Brian Adeba, Deputy Director of Policy at The Sentry, said: “The Pope’s visit to South Sudan should be an opportunity to shine the spotlight on the issues that continue to fuel war. Corruption and state capture continue to fuel conflict and massive human suffering, yet South Sudan’s leaders have not taken concrete steps to fight it.”

Pope Francis previously met with Salva Kiir in 2019, when he memorably kneeled and kissed Kiir’s feet to beg him and his rival Riek Machar to make peace. Since then, little has been done by the leaders of South Sudan to improve the situation in the country. South Sudan is currently ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Additional resource for news coverage:

Op-ed in The Hill: Pope’s visit to South Sudan and Congo shines light on suffering, need for international action

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Greg Hittelman, Director of Communications, [email protected]

About The Sentry

(Short descriptor for press use: “The Sentry, an investigative organization that tracks corruption”)

The Sentry is an investigative and policy organization that seeks to disable multinational predatory networks that benefit from violent conflict, repression, and kleptocracy. Pull back the curtain on wars, mass atrocities, and other human rights abuses, and you’ll find grand corruption and unchecked greed. These tragedies persist because the perpetrators rarely face meaningful consequences. The Sentry aims to alter the warped incentive structures that continually undermine peace and good governance. Our investigations follow the money as it is laundered from war zones to financial centers around the world. We provide evidence and strategies for governments, banks, and law enforcement to hold the perpetrators and enablers of violence and corruption to account. These efforts provide new leverage for human rights, peace, and anti-corruption efforts.