Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Ashraf Seed Ahmed Al-Cardinal (Al-Cardinal) and Kur Ajing Ater (Ajing) for their involvement in corruption in South Sudan. Five companies determined to be owned or controlled by Al-Cardinal and one company-owned or controlled by Ajing were also sanctioned.
OFAC designated these individuals and entities pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption. Today’s action demonstrates continued U.S. commitment to prevent and combat corruption globally.
The corrupt activities of these individuals robbed critical resources from a war-torn country. The population of South Sudan faces food insecurity, and an estimated one-third of South Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes.
We urge the Government of South Sudan to take seriously the clear linkage between corrupt activities and the motive of some elites to disrupt the peace agreement, the implementation of which has reached a critical stage.