Who wins when F1 comes to Azerbaijan? See through the smoke with “Aliyev Empire,” our massive investigative project which maps the secret $13 billion empire amassed by the daughters of Azerbaijan's president amid the regime's corruption and brutal repression. atlas.thesentry.org/azerbaijan-a...

The Russian Wagner Group operations in Mali have created chaos and instability, resulting in paranoia and fractures within the Malian military junta. Our new investigative report reveals what led to this moment: thesentry.org/reports/merc...

August 23 marked the two year anniversary of the death of Wagner Group's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. What's happened with Wagner Group's operations since then? The Sentry will be releasing new details in an investigative report this Wednesday. Stay tuned... Sign up: thesentry.org/email-signup

Adut Kiir, daughter of President Salva Kiir, took the oath to become presidential envoy today. She's been involved with at least seven companies that are critical to South Sudan's economy. Dig into the links between the Kiir family and South Sudan's economy: atlas.thesentry.org/kiirdom/netw...

F1: The Movie goes live on streaming services today. But behind the excitement and glam of the track, the UAE is also funding something far darker: genocidal militias and war in Sudan. Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, F1 will you choose silence and fame, or will you speak out on Sudan?

The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan has rightly been described as historic — but it is also a peace washing PR coup for President Ilham Aliyev. 🧵

Evidence from the UN and human rights groups show that 23 Armenian detainees, including prominent leaders, are being held in prisons in Baku absent independent oversight. “Aliyev Empire” digs into the kleptocratic regime behind the repression in Azerbaijan: atlas.thesentry.org/azerbaijan-a...

When we publish an investigative report, that's not the end of the story—in fact, it's just the beginning. In our latest Sidebar blog, we reveal the often-overlooked work that takes place behind-the-scenes to ensure our investigations make a lasting impact: medium.com/the-sentry-s...

🇦🇿 🇦🇲 Leaders meet. Deals are made. Yet 23 Armenians are still detained, without fair trials, in Azerbaijani prisons with reports of torture. Meanwhile, President Aliyev's daughters have amassed a fortune. “Aliyev Empire” exposes their financial empire: atlas.thesentry.org/azerbaijan-a...

🇦🇿🇦🇲 Tomorrow, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will sit down together at the White House. But justice is still missing. “Aliyev Empire” reveals the massive kleptocratic theft that's a hallmark of the Aliyev regime. atlas.thesentry.org/azerbaijan-a...

DR Congo: US & European pressure brought DRC & Rwanda to the table. It’s time to double down. Network sanctions and clear transparency in minerals deals can help solidify the peace process. The Sentry's Sasha Lezhnev & John Prendergast today in @foreignpolicy.com: foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/05/w...

🇪🇷 “Power and Plunder” reveals industrial-scale pillage during and after the war in Tigray. Explore our latest investigative report and its recommendations:

We're happy to see a step towards cleaning up an opaque industry! Financial secrecy shouldn't be hanging in a gallery. New bipartisan legislation, the Art Market Integrity Act, is taking aim at the shadowy corners of the US art world. www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/re...

🔴 NEW INVESTIGATION: A decade‑long ban for Guernsey adviser tied to the family of an Azerbaijani oligarch 🇦🇿 A collaboration with @thesentryorg.bsky.social forbiddenstories.org/daphne-proje... 1/🧵

A lack of accountability for EDF human rights violations and industrial-scale looting in Tigray increases the risk of a renewed conflict. Read the AFP piece in @Barrons.com spotlighting our newest investigative report "Power and Plunder". www.barrons.com/news/eritrea...

Power and Plunder: Our latest report uncovers new evidence that the Eritrean Defense Forces were responsible for systematic looting and cross-border illicit financial activities. What does this mean for the threat of renewed violence in Tigray? Learn more: thesentry.org/reports/powe...

🚨 The London Bullion Market Association announced that it will require all refiners (~70% of the global gold market) to disclose all high-risk suppliers in 2026. Thanks LBMA, this is a welcome step. www.lbma.org.uk/articles/lbm...

Justyna Gudzowska and John Prendergast were in The Hague this week with more than 100 @postcodeloterij.bsky.social partners as the Postcode Loterij announced $363 million raised for charities in the past year. The Power of the Postcodes is incredible and we are grateful for their partnership.

Did you know that public blocked pending investigation (BPI) listings can be a valuable tool to counter corrupt networks? Our new report explains BPI listings and highlights opportunities to enhance the impact of the tool to disrupt illicit financial networks. thesentry.org/reports/bpi-...

"The war in Sudan has a significant yet multifaceted impact on South Sudan’s economic health. But Juba’s biggest challenges are internal." theconversation.com/is-sudans-wa...

Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is at risk. Baku’s recent moves may signal pressure—not progress. Read the latest from John Prendergast in @JustSecurity.org: www.justsecurity.org/114128/threa...

Continued fighting might be more likely than peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev persists with territorial expansion and worrying business deals, writes @thesentryorg.bsky.social ’s John Prendergast: www.justsecurity.org/114128/threa...

When we publish an investigative report, that's not the end of the story—in fact, it's just the beginning. Read our latest Sidebar blog to find out how we work behind-the-scenes to ensure our investigations make a lasting impact: medium.com/the-sentry-s...

#DRC: Rwanda-backed M23 are killing, torturing, and holding civilians hostage at detention sites in Goma. Their actions may amount to war crimes, according to a new investigation @amnesty.org. www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

Every year, over $30 billion in illicit gold circulates worldwide, often originating from conflict zones and authoritarian states. Sasha Lezhnev and John Prendergast delve into how this underground economy fuels wars and supports oppressive regimes: www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

“Everyone is targeted”: South Sudanese civilians describe surviving barrel bomb attacks and incendiary weapons deployed by the national army and allied Ugandan forces.

Did you know that data sharing collaborations between civil society and the private sector can cut corrupt networks off from the international financial system? Find out how in our blog series, The Sentry Sidebar: medium.com/the-sentry-s...

We’re excited to announce that The Sentry has earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency for the second year in a row! Fewer than 1% of the 1.7 million nonprofits registered with the IRS receive this recognition of organizational transparency. We’re honored to be one of them.

Over $30B in illicit gold fuels wars and crises—from Sudan to DR Congo to Ukraine. The Sentry's John Prendergast & Sasha Lezhnev detail what the US & the gold industry can do to combat this deadly trade in @foreignaffairs.com >> www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...

#Kiirdom: Salva Kiir has built an extensive business empire for himself and his family. We’ve compiled all our investigative data on the Kiir family network into one interactive visual. You can now see all of the linkages in one place and download the data: atlas.thesentry.org/Kiirdom/

Declan Walsh and the staff of The New York Times won the Pulitzer for international reporting for revealing the horrific consequences of Sudan’s civil war. Revisit their Pulitzer-winning work: nyti.ms/3ETrlkW

Sudan to cut ties with United Arab Emirates over alleged RSF support

OCCRP’s recent investigation revealed that Swiss private bank Reyl Intesa Sanpaolo clients include Olivier Mestelan, a Swiss asset manager with links to the ruling family in Azerbaijan. Learn more about Mestelan and his network in our “Aliyev Empire” project: atlas.thesentry.org/person/olivi...

Exclusive: UN panel investigates Emirati links to seized weapons in Darfur reut.rs/4jUnym7

Will you be at ACAMS The Assembly in Hollywood this week? Our executive director, @justynapg.bsky.social, and Laura Ferris, our senior policy advisor, will be participating in an event on environmental crime this afternoon. Stop by and say hello! Learn more >> www.acams.org/en/events/th...

"This is an army of philanthropists, & humanitarians, & human rights activists, & people who are trying to change the world in myriad ways." – John Prendergast For 10 years, Aurora has united courageous & compassionate changemakers, creating a global network of impact. @thesentryorg.bsky.social

April marks two years since the start of the brutal war in Sudan – a war the UAE is fueling by arming the RSF. Trevor Noah, we know you have a show coming up in the UAE this month. Use your platform to #SpeakOutOnSudan.

Revenues from Libya’s illicit oil trade are filling the pockets of politicians and armed groups while fanning instability and conflict. While entire areas of the country face frequent fuel shortages, Libya’s rulers “appear content with the enormous fuel-swap programme.” Dig in >> on.ft.com/4bQhJ6C

Have you ever wondered how The Sentry collects and uses investigative data? Our blog series unveils the tools and methods of our Research and Data team, including unique findings and their implications. Explore the posts > medium.com/the-sentry-s...

On May 7, join us at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center for the 2025 Human Rights & Humanitarian Forum. Hosted by The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA Law & Aurora, this groundbreaking event challenges us to rethink our approaches to global crises: bit.ly/RegisterHRHF2025

As conflict engulfs eastern DR Congo, neighboring nations profit by smuggling Congolese gold and coltan—fueling violence and exploiting forced labor. Read the full story in @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/world/africa...

A full-scale cross-border invasion has been unfolding in the DRC and Rwanda. The US and Europe have much at stake. Sasha Lezhnev and John Prendergast of @thesentryorg.bsky.social on the humanitarian toll, the gold and other minerals in play, and a possible way out:

"Africa holds 40% of the world's critical minerals and China, a decade ago, made a strategic decision to procure them. The investments have come with corruption and human rights abuses. Nowhere have these problems been more acute than the Democratic Republic of Congo." -Sasha Lezhnev

TODAY: Join us in Congress as Sasha Lezhnev, The Sentry's Senior Policy Advisor, testifies about the DR Congo's critical minerals, conflict gold, and China, including policy solutions for the US, tech companies, and banks. Watch live at 10am EDT: foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/metals-m...

Global demand for metals and minerals is rising—but at what cost? Join the House Foreign Affairs Committee tomorrow, March 25th, for a hearing on the issue, with testimony from The Sentry’s Senior Policy Advisor, Sasha Lezhnev: foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/meta...

Libya's subsidized fuel is being smuggled abroad, fueling division and sustaining rival factions. The Sentry’s investigative team worked closely with @financialtimes.com to expose elements of this illicit oil trade. Read the full article >> on.ft.com/4bQhJ6C

Since Rwanda invaded DRC with support for M23, it has exported over $800 million in illicit gold. The US and UK should follow the lead of the European Union and sanction conflict gold traders. Banks and jewelers should also red flag Rwanda-exported gold. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

We are immensely grateful for the generous support from the players of People's Postcode Lottery. Thank you for standing with The Sentry in the fight against conflict and corruption. Together, we can uphold justice, human rights, and a future built on integrity and compassion.

Join us in welcoming Justyna Gudzowska (@justynapg.bsky.social) as The Sentry’s new executive director! Under Justyna's leadership, we will intensify our efforts to expose and dismantle the illicit networks that fuel war, mass atrocities, and kleptocracy. Learn more: thesentry.org/2025/03/03/8...