The Sentry’s Post

We’re incredibly honored to receive a grant of 1.2 million euros from the Nationale Postcode Loterij. The grant will empower The Sentry to launch a three-year project targeting illicit operations that are devastating forests, fueling climate change, and funding armed conflict. Stay tuned! https://lnkd.in/eVfmj8Fz

Just launched: Our new report reveals evidence of a secret stream of money leading to #Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation. Our evidence suggests that the #CIO, an agency notorious for political partisanship, repression, and violent abuses, controls a business conglomerate of companies involved in hemp, solar energy, coal mining, tourism, and golf. Explore the findings, graphics, and recommendations:  https://lnkd.in/errTffzc 

📣 Breaking: Our latest report reveals new evidence linking the CIO, #Zimbabwe’s intelligence agency notorious for humans rights abuses, to Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), a politically affiliated trust allegedly involved in voter intimidation. The #FAZ trust was established by associates and family members of Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, the deputy director general of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). FAZ’s official deeds reveal that FAZ’s trustees include Tangisai Tapera, a key ally of Tapfumaneyi and his business partner in a past oil deal with Iran. Both Tapfumaneyi and FAZ deny that the CIO controls the trust. FAZ declined to identify its funders, claiming that it is financed by “well wishers who prefer not to be named.” FAZ’s activities—including a large get-out-the-vote operation with allegations of voter intimidation—may have helped #ZANU-PF, the ruling party, win the election. Observers noted FAZ’s presence at thousands of polling stations, where its reported links to ZANU-PF and the security services may have intimidated rural voters. FAZ declined to comment when asked whether their activities intimidated voters or whether their spending tipped the electoral scales toward ZANU-PF. The Sentry’s findings add to the revelations by Zimbabwe’s News Hawks on the role of the CIO in forming FAZ. Read the report’s full findings and recommendations: https://lnkd.in/gwBs3BPk

Outgoing United Nations #SRSG Abdoulaye Bathily called #Libya "almost an open supermarket for arms" that is "increasingly becoming a sort of mafia state dominated by groups trafficking gasoline, migrants, gold, and drugs." Bathily's critical comments match conclusions made in The Sentry's recent report on Libya, "Libya's Kleptocratic Boom." For detailed insights, read our report here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/gwvxrnzh

📣 The European Parliament voted today to keep the UAE on its list of High-Risk Third Countries, sending a strong signal to countries enabling sanction evasion. Last week, we published an open letter with Transparency International EU calling for the UAE to remain on the grey list. We applaud today's update and welcome the decision by the European Parliament. The Sentry's Senior Illicit Finance Policy Advisor, Anrike Visser, CAMS, said: “The European Parliament today sends a strong signal to countries enabling sanction evasion, illicit arms trade and conflict gold. The UAE will remain on the EU High-Risk Third Countries list until it can prove that it implements and enforces AML/CFT measures. The EU’s decision is an important action in solidarity with the people in countries like Sudan and Ukraine who have faced massive suffering fueled through the illicit activities of foreign states.”

Do you want to join us at The Sentry? We're looking for a part-time Cybersecurity and IT Consultant who can help us securely collaborate, investigate, and publish our work. Apply now or learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e8pNEeqU

The war engulfing Sudan is not a simple ethnic conflict or power struggle between two warlords. Most international players in Sudan are seeking to profit from the country’s crisis. The US can drive peace instead of war—but only if it takes crucial steps. John Prendergast in @ForeignAffairs: https://lnkd.in/enEH-_xs

As much as 40% of the fuel being imported into #Libya under a government subsidy program — or about $5 billion a year — is leaking out through illicit trade. We're proud to have worked with Bloomberg News to continue exposing the surge of corruption across Libya. https://lnkd.in/evD5zrAq #fuel #illicittrade

Have you ever wondered how The Sentry collects and uses investigative data? Our new blog series unveils the tools and methods of our Research and Data team, including unique findings and their implications. Explore the first post: https://lnkd.in/erUR8hMq