sanctions.io’s Post

📣 UK Imposes Sanctions on Ugandan Politicians for Corruption, Targeting Speaker of Parliament 📜 On April 30, 2024, the UK imposed sanctions on Ugandan politicians, including the Speaker of Parliament, for corruption charges related to stealing from vulnerable communities. This marks the first use of the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime against corruption in Uganda. 📝 Former ministers Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu diverted resources meant for Uganda's poorest regions, Karamoja, for personal gain. Speaker Anita Annet Among benefitted from the proceeds. ✅ The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes. The UK aims to combat global corruption, targeting individuals involved in serious corruption cases worldwide. Over 60% of Karamoja residents live in poverty, suffering from drought and insecurity. Original source 👉:https://lnkd.in/g2aw3wqD #UKsanctions #sanctionsupdate #sanctionscompliance #UgandanPoliticians #CorruptionCharges #GlobalAntiCorruption #SanctionsRegime

Read my latest piece for OCCRP here👇

UK Launches Historic Anti-Corruption Crackdown The UK government has today unveiled unprecedented sanctions targeting three notorious kleptocrats and their networks, marking a decisive shift in the fight against international corruption and illicit finance. 📋 Key Sanctions Target: • Dmitry Firtash: Ukrainian oligarch who exploited gas distribution systems and concealed millions in UK property - Wife Lada Firtash also sanctioned (controls Brompton Road tube station site) - UK-based facilitator Denis Gorbunenko included • Isabel Dos Santos: Former "Africa's richest woman" - Embezzled minimum £350M from Angola - Under Interpol Red Notice since 2022 - Recently lost Court of Appeal case on worldwide asset freeze - Associates Paula Oliveira and Sarju Raikundalia also sanctioned • Aivars Lembergs: Latvian tycoon - Convicted on 19 corruption charges in 2021 - Daughter Liga Lemberga sanctioned for helping hide proceeds 💬 "The tide is turning. The golden age of money laundering is over," declares Foreign Secretary David Lammy, announcing this as first step in comprehensive anti-corruption campaign. #UKSanctions #AntiCorruption #FinancialCrime #GlobalJustice #MoneyLaundering #UKGovernment #Compliance #InternationalLaw

U.S. Sanctions #Zimbabwe President for #Corruption and #HumanRights Violations. In a significant move, the #US #Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (#OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe President #EmmersonMnangagwa and ten members of his government, along with their spouses, under the Global Magnitsky Program. This action comes in response to Mnangagwa's involvement in corruption and severe human rights abuses, including acts of #kidnapping and #torture perpetrated by his administration. The measures are aimed at holding accountable those directly responsible for such atrocities while sparing the broader Zimbabwean population from undue harm. Mnangagwa's regime stands accused of enriching itself through illicit #smuggling networks and using state power to shield criminals. Allegations of #bribery, violence against political opponents, and suppression of dissent have also been leveled against him and his inner circle, including his wife and vice president. The #sanctions signal a shift in U.S. policy towards Zimbabwe, offering an opportunity for the government to enact reforms and improve its human rights record. However, they have been met with defiance from Mnangagwa's government, labeling them as illegal and calling for their immediate removal.

🚨 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: The United States has imposed sanctions on 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘇𝗶𝘇 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱. This decision is reportedly linked to allegations of #corruption and #human_rights_abuses. The sanctions highlight the US's commitment to promoting accountability and transparency in governance globally. This development underscores the importance of ethical leadership and the global implications of national actions. It's a crucial moment for Bangladesh to address these issues and reinforce its commitment to integrity and human rights. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: https://lnkd.in/gXg-9bV4 Every challenge is an opportunity for positive change. Let's strive for a future built on integrity and respect for human rights. 🌍✨ #PositiveChange #Leadership #Ethics #GlobalGovernance #HumanRights #Bangladesh

On Monday, 30 April 2024, the UK Government sanctioned Ugandan politicians following corruption charges. The politicians were charged with misappropriating funds designated for infrastructure projects aimed at benefiting some of Uganda’s most vulnerable communities. The three individuals sanctioned were Anita Annet Among, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda since 2022, Mary Goretti Kitutu, who was Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2021 and 2024 and Agnes Nandutu, who was the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2021 and 2024. The individuals were sanctioned under the UK’s Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime, the first time the UK has issued sanctions for those involved in corruption in Uganda. They will all be subject to travel bans and asset freezes. Both Nandutu and Kitutu were responsible for Uganda’s poorest region, Karamoja. They stole thousands of iron sheets used for roofing and infrastructure in the region from a government-funded project aiming to house some of the most vulnerable in the community and instead provided them to other prominent politicians their families. Over 60% of people in Karamoja live in poverty, and many suffer from the impacts of drought and insecurity. Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell said, “The actions of these individuals, in taking aid from those who need it most, and keeping the proceeds, is corruption at its worst and has no place in society. The Ugandan courts are rightly taking action to crack down on those politicians who seek to line their own pockets at their constituents’ expense.” He added, “Today the UK is sending a clear message to those who think benefitting at the expense of other is acceptable. Corruption has the consequences, and you will be held responsible.” In response, the Uganda parliament has urged the UK to ‘stop meddling’ in its local politics and respect the country’s sovereignty. The use of sanctions is generally viewed dimly across much of Africa, and so Western countries using sanctions in this way must way up the aims of such sanctions with the risks of pushing African countries further towards countries like Russia, China and Iran. The timing of this is also interesting given the recent Iranian tour of African countries looking to promote relations between Iran and the continent. #sanctions #corruption #uganda #uk #government #fcdo #news

States have an important chance to strengthen efforts to curb arms diversion by recognising the links between corruption and arms diversion and encouraging more international cooperation on corruption. During his address at the Fourth Review Conference of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), our Senior Researcher, Colby Goodman, emphasised the importance of tackling corruption to effectively curb the illegal arms trade. Building on national, regional, and international efforts to assess and mitigate corruption-fueled diversion, he called on states to: - Recognise corruption as a key enabler of the illicit trade and diversion of SALW and the negative impact of such illicit trade - Increase national action to assess and mitigate the influence of corruption on arms diversion - Enhance national and international cooperation on these issues Learn more in our latest spotlight: https://lnkd.in/dEUP6ANc #corruption #anticorruption #armstrade #unitednations #UN

#VantageOnFirstpost US Revamps Zimbabwe Sanctions: Relief for Ordinary People | Vantage with Palki Sharma The US has revamped its sanctions on Zimbabwe. It has removed sanctions on numerous companies and people. Now it is just targeting 11 people and 3 firms. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is still under sanctions, and so is the first lady Auxillia. The US is still trying to hold them accountable for corruption and political repression. But the new sanctions list should come as a relief for the ordinary people of Zimbabwe, who no longer have to suffer for the crimes of their leaders. --- USA | Zimbabwe | Sanctions | Emmerson Mnangagwa | Firstpost | World News | Vantage | Palki Sharma #zimbabwe #usa #sanctions #firstpost #vantageonfirstpost #palkisharma #worldnews

Last week, Spotlight on Corruption published “All Bark and No Bite?” – our detailed report into the UK’s lacklustre enforcement of sanctions. The report’s author Helen Taylor explains the report’s key recommendations in the video below 👇 . ⚖️ As eagerly anticipated in our report, today we see the very first forfeiture of funds suspected to be derived from sanctions evasion as the National Crime Agency (NCA) agrees a settlement in its pursuit of funds allegedly belonging to Russian oligarch Petr Aven. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eZsPcUXS 🤔 Is today’s news evidence that the UK’s early sanctions efforts are starting to bear fruit? It should at least sharpen the watchdogs’ appetite for further action. Our report from last week sets out how to give the UK’s sanction enforcement real bite. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gA2bgvre #sanctions #enforcement #forfeiture

With civil society colleagues like Transparency International UK and UK Anti-Corruption Coalition we wrote to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to urge it take urgent steps to help the new government of Bangladesh track down stolen assets: https://lnkd.in/efFnrMag Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating many former ministers from the recently collapsed government for corruption including a former land minister with an extensive property empire in London: https://lnkd.in/eP9B-PWx We are calling on the FCDO to 👉 surge resources to the National Crime Agency (NCA) for tracking illicit Bangladeshi assets in the UK 👉 work with allies to sanction previous regime members to freeze their assets and 👉 provide urgent expert asset tracking and legal support to the new government