Politics

South Sudan activist Peter Ajak arrested in US for ‘smuggling’ weapons

Published

10 months ago

March 6, 2024

Peter Biar Ajak, an activist from South Sudan, has been detained for prosecution in the United States for allegedly trying to smuggle $4 million worth of weapons into his nation. This could damage his reputation as an activist fighting corruption.

The 40-year-old Mr. Ajak and his 44-year-old compatriot, Abraham Chol Keech, were charged with planning to buy and “illegally export millions of dollars’ worth” of military-grade weaponry to South Sudan, according to confirmation from the US Department of Justice.

The allegations stated that they intended to export the weapons using a fictitious contract. These armaments included ammunition, sniper rifles, automatic rifles, grenade launchers, hand grenades, Stinger missile systems, and other export-restricted goods from the US to South Sudan.

The UN arms embargo and two US statutes, the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), prohibit the export of any kind of weaponry to South Sudan.

The embargo was put in place by the UN Security Council to quell a civil war that had broken out in 2016. 2018 saw the conclusion of the war as a result of a peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and a number of armed groups. However, the ban was only recently extended until May of this year after being enforced in 2018.

Under the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council and two US laws, the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), it is unlawful to export any kind of weaponry to South Sudan.

In order to contain a civil war that had broken out in 2016, the UN Security Council imposed the embargo. Following a peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and many armed groups, the war came to an end in 2018. Yet the ban, which was put in place in 2018, was only recently extended until May of this year.

A licence from the US Department of State would also have been required for Mr. Ajak to ship any weapons to South Sudan. He didn’t.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division stressed that “as alleged, the defendants sought to unlawfully smuggle heavy weapons and ammunition from the United States into South Sudan, a country that is subject to a UN arms embargo due to the violence between armed groups, which has killed and displaced thousands.”

“The Department of Justice will not tolerate the illicit export of weapons overseas, and we will hold accountable those who would violate our laws.”

Related Topics:Featured Peter Biar Ajak South Sudan

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.