Just in case anyone is thinking of getting comfortable, here's one more layer of intrigue for you.
It seems that a US-DRC security agreement may be a little more complex than reigning in M23 and a few child-soldier rebel groups operating along the DRC's eastern border. It looks like being a bilateral security arrangement benefiting both nations.
A number of Lebanese businessmen operating in the DRC have been publicly identified and sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for their suspected roles in funneling funds to Islamist groups, particularly Hezbollah.
In particular,
Nazem Said Ahmad, Saleh Assi, and
Kassim Tajideen are among a number of prominent Lebanese businessmen in the DRC suspected of funneling funds to Hezbollah through complex business and money laundering schemes.
According to my AI assistant,
- Nazem Said Ahmed's network is linked to laundering illicit profits and transferring funds to Hezbollah in Lebanon, often through bulk cash transfers or by laundering through diamond businesses.
- Saleh Assi's companies in the DRC are involved in money laundering and tax evasion, and provide revenue to Lebanon via bulk cash transfers or through Ahmad’s diamond businesses, and
- Kassim Tajideen's family businesses are involved in large-scale tax fraud, money laundering, and trade in diamonds of questionable origin, with millions funneled to Hezbollah.
The proposed security-for-minerals agreement just got a bit more complex.
Unfortunately, I do not have access to the full script.
Cheers
F
