BREAKING: US Treasury Sanctions Alain Goetz, Refinery and Network for Illicit Gold Trade March 17, 2022 (Washington, DC) — Today, the US Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on Alain Goetz, the African Gold Refinery in Uganda, and a business network for involvement in the illicit movement of hundreds of millions of dollars in gold from the […]

62 Congolese Civil Society Groups, Activists, and International NGOs Join in Kinshasa Declaration Today Calling for Clean National Elections in 2023 Coalition Warns Democratic Elections in Jeopardy, Urges US and International Community to Support Civic Education and Electoral Observation March 17, 2022 (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo) – Today at a press conference in Kinshasa, a […]

A coalition, joined by The Sentry and 61 other Congolese civil society and human rights groups and international NGOs, is calling for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2023 national elections to be free, credible, transparent, inclusive, and democratic. The jointly signed declaration is available in English and in French, and the full English text is below. The coalition […]

US Needs New Strategy and Urgent Action to Counter Corruption, Threat of Russian Access to Illicit Assets in Africa Report Details Anti-Corruption Measures Critical to Safeguard the Continent From Becoming a Russian Lifeline in Evading International Sanctions March 14, 2022 (Washington, DC) – Urgent action is needed by the US government to counter threats of […]

Note: This op-ed originally appeared on Medium and was written by Brad Brooks-Rubin, a Senior Advisor at The Sentry. China, Russia, and a Proxy War for Strategic Minerals Responsible Reporting Requirements Can Provide Rules of Engagement While outright war involving a major power has broken out in Ukraine — there’s a parallel global battle underway. China, […]

Secrecy Decried in Deal Between Sanctioned Mining Tycoon Dan Gertler and DR Congo March 1, 2022 (New York / Washington, DC) – The Sentry joins the Congo is Not For Sale coalition in calling for transparency and information on a secretive deal reportedly signed by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with sanctioned mining […]

Note: This op-ed originally appeared in Foreign Policy and was written by John Prendergast, Co-Founder of The Sentry, and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Targeted Sanctions Can Help Restore Democracy in Sudan Focusing on key military leaders and their networks can force the regime to change course. The […]

Note: This op-ed originally appeared in Foreign Affairs and was written by Justyna Gudzowska, Director of Illicit Finance Policy at The Sentry, John Prendergast, Co-Founder of The Sentry, and Daniel W. Drezner of Foreign Affairs.     Can Sanctions Be Smart? The Costs and Benefits of Economic Coercion THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB Daniel Drezner’s […]

RSVP for Special “Congo Hold-up” Event This Thursday: Experts Explore Investigations Spurred by Africa’s Largest-Ever Data Leak   You are invited to attend a special online event: “The Congo Hold-up Investigation in Focus” this Thursday, February 17, 2022, 10am – 11am EST. Please join The Sentry, Human Rights Watch, Resource Matters, and the Center for […]

The Sentry and Moody’s Analytics Collaborate to Drive Greater Transparency on Criminal Activities in Business   February 9, 2022 (New York / Washington, DC) – Today, The Sentry, an investigative and policy organization that seeks to disable multinational predatory networks that benefit from violent conflict, repression, and kleptocracy, announced that it is collaborating with Moody’s Analytics, a […]

23 International Groups Applaud US Treasury for New Rule to Counter Anonymous Shell Companies Strict Enforcement, Closing Loopholes Urged to Strengthen Beneficial Ownership Transparency and Combat Illicit Finance February 4, 2022 (Washington, DC) – Today, The Sentry led an effort among 23 international human rights and transparency organizations in submitting a letter applauding the US Department of […]

The Sentry led an effort among a coalition of 23 international human rights and transparency organizations in submitting a letter applauding the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)’s newly proposed rule implementing the beneficial ownership registration elements of the Corporate Transparency Act. The signatories also called on FinCEN to establish strong measures in the […]

“Decisive Action” on Coup Leaders Urged as U.S. Senate Holds Hearing Today on Sudan February 1, 2022 (Washington, DC) – The Sentry welcomes the news that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) will hold a full committee hearing today at 10:00 am EST on “Sudan’s Imperiled Transition: U.S. Policy in the Wake of the October […]

ALERTE INFO : « CONGO HOLD-UP »  La version française du rapport d’enquête « Un empire détourné» publiée par The Sentry Washington, le 26 janvier 2022 – « Un empire détourné: Des millions de dollars planqués dans l’immobilier international par le frère de Kabila », publié dans un premier temps en anglais dans le cadre de la série d’enquêtes du consortium international Congo Hold-up en […]

This op-ed originally appeared on The Hill and was written by Michelle Kendler-Kretsch, Investigator at  The Sentry. When my parents moved to Miami and were looking for an apartment, I jokingly offered my investigative services to make sure their rental unit wasn’t owned by a drug trafficker or a corrupt foreign leader. Miami real estate is well known for being […]

Sudan Prime Minister Hamdok Resigns The Sentry Urges Consequences for Military Rulers January 2, 2021 (Washington, DC) – Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned today, amid widespread anti-coup protests across the nation. Experts at The Sentry are available for comment and analysis. John Prendergast, Co-Founder of The Sentry, said: “The longer the United States and […]

BREAKING: US Sanctions Central African Militia Leader Ali Darassa   December 17, 2021 (Washington, DC) – Today, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on Central African militia leader Ali Darassa for serious human rights abuses, including killings, torture, rape, abductions, violence against children, and deadly attacks on camps of […]

BREAKING: EU Sanctions Russia’s Wagner Group   December 13, 2021 (Washington, DC) – Today, the Council of the European Union announced sanctions against the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked defense and security firm. The measures target the Wagner Group itself, and eight individuals and three entities connected to it. In recent investigative reports, The Sentry has been at […]

BREAKING: US Sanctions South Sudanese Companies Linked to President’s Inner Circle   December 9, 2021 (Washington, DC) – The US Department of the Treasury today sanctioned two companies linked to the sanctioned South Sudanese businessman Benjamin Bol Mel. The sanctions were imposed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as Global Magnitsky designations, which target […]

This op-ed originally appeared on Project Syndicate and was written by John Prendergast, Co-Founder of  The Sentry. With no sign that Ethiopia’s civil war will end anytime soon, the US and its partners must take action where they can to save lives. In particular, financial sanctions should be broadened to prevent further human-rights abuses, and creative humanitarian intervention is […]