Seal of the US Department of the Treasury. Photo: AP
Washinton, DC, December 9, 2021 (SSNA) — The United States on Thursday slapped fresh sanctions on companies it believes involves in massive corruption in South Sudan, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury has announced.
In the statement by the South Sudan News Agency, the US targeted ARC Resource Corporation Ltd and Winners Construction Company Limited. The two companies are owned by South Sudanese businessman Benjamin Bol Mel Kuol.
The United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen confirmed the new sanctions.
“Corrupt acts take resources from citizens, undermine public trust, and threaten the progress of those who fight for democracy. Treasury is committed to countering those who seek personal enrichment at the expense of the people who trust them to serve — especially in the middle of a global pandemic. We are taking these actions today to expose and hold corrupt leaders accountable,” Yellen said.
ARC Resources Corporation LTD and Winners Construction Company Limited are directly or indirectly linked to Thai-South Sudan Construction Company Limited (ABMC), a company which is also run by Benjamin Bol and blacklisted in 2017.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the US Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States, according to its website.