Dear Supporter,

In The Sentry’s latest report, we tell the story of Ali Khalil Myree. A one-time fugitive with suspected ties to Hezbollah, Myree fled from justice, found refuge in in the world’s youngest nation, and went on to become one of the most powerful businessmen in South Sudan’s capital city Juba. 

For over a decade, Myree has been living in South Sudan where he has established more than a dozen companies, received public accolades, and cultivated a network of powerful government allies. The government has granted him citizenship, lucrative contracts, and even the title of honorary consul. In “The Metamorphosis of Ali Khalil Merhi,” our investigators pull back the curtain on Myree’s origins, revealing that, before arriving in South Sudan, he was Ali Khalil Merhi, a Lebanese businessman who fled Paraguay in 2000 while awaiting trial for piracy charges and under suspicion for links to terror financing. At the time of his disappearance, he was also wanted by Argentinian prosecutors for questioning about a deadly terrorist attack in Buenos Aires.

This is not just the story of a single suspected bad actor, however. Kleptocracies like South Sudan can provide a safe haven for organized crime groups, smugglers, and suspected terrorist financiers. By cultivating the support of powerful government officials who prioritize their economic interests over the rule of law, businesspeople can conduct their operations with little scrutiny. In South Sudan, meaningful consequences for misconduct have been few and far between for suspected criminals and their government collaborators alike, and the result is a prevailing environment of impunity. It is these systemic issues in South Sudan that make the nation an attractive refuge for suspected criminals.

To address this national security risk and build accountability in South Sudan, The Sentry proposes a coordinated strategy involving local agencies, foreign governments, financial institutions, and multilateral bodies. To learn more, read “The Metamorphosis of Ali Khalil Merhi.”

Thank you for supporting The Sentry’s efforts to fight impunity and create consequences for those benefiting from chaos and violence in South Sudan.

Sincerely,

John Prendergast
Co-Founder of The Sentry