Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 110

110th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 110th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Jun 03, 2025 and Aug 29, 2025. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons Elected Suriname’s First Female President Amid Political Shift

One noteworthy event has occurred in Suriname, 71-year-old physician and veteran lawmaker Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has been elected as Suriname’s first female president, receiving parliamentary approval to lead the economically troubled South American nation.

As per Al Jazeera, her election followed a coalition agreement in the National Assembly, which secured her the required two-thirds majority vote, that came after an inconclusive general election in May and increasing calls for the departure of outgoing President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, whose administration faced criticism over corruption allegations and strict austerity measures.

Dau Aturjong Nyuol Sworn In as South Sudan’s New Defence Chief Amid Rising Tensions

Shifting our focus to South Sudan, Dau Aturjong Nyuol was sworn in as South Sudan’s new Chief of Defence Forces during a ceremony at State House in Juba, attended by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who also serves as the armed forces’ commander in chief.

Dau, previously a lieutenant general, was promoted to the rank of general. His appointment follows Kiir’s dismissal of Gen. Paul Nang Majok, who had held the position for seven months.

Majok oversaw the military during clashes between government forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia largely composed of Nuer youths, which has fueled recent political instability.

President Barrow Appoints Sering Modou Njie as Gambia’s New Foreign Affairs Minister

In Gambia, President Adama Barrow appointed Sering Modou Njie as Foreign Affairs Minister.

Honourable Njie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in International Relations. A native of Medina Sering Mass, Honourable Njie started his military career in 1998 as Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Armed Forces, and rose to the position of Head of the Republic National Guard in 2011 before proceeding as Deputy Head of Mission at the Gambia High Commission in New Delhi, India. Njie also served in different positions at the Gambia Embassy in Turkey before he was appointed Minister for Defence in 2022.

FCA Fines Monzo £21M for AML Failures, Citing Inadequate Customer Risk Checks and Due Diligence

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Financial Conduct Authority announced fines of £21 million against UK Challenger Bank for serious AML weaknesses between 2018 and 2020. This follows a fine against Starling Bank for £28 million also a UK Challenger bank last year. The FCA found that, key elements of Monzo’s financial crime framework particularly with regard to customer risk assessments and the collection of customer information, did not keep pace with the Firms expansion and during the VREQ period. FCA considers that they were inadequate understanding of FC related risks from Monzo’s customers.

Prior to the VREQ period, (before 2020), Monzo operated a more limited approach to collecting customer information (CDD) at the point of onboarding. Whilst this facilitated account opening processes, it meant that Monzo did not obtain and or address sufficient information about prospective customers, in particular, the Firm failed to obtain the purpose and nature of the proposed customer relationship, and failed to review all adverse media alerts for a customer unless other risk factors were present.

In respect of business customers, Monzo’s CDD procedures did not provide, as required by the UK Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs), for verification of identity of all BO’ and persons of significant control.

Former Xizang Vice-Chairman Wang Yong Receives Suspended Death Sentence for Bribery in China

Shifting our attention to China, Wang Yong, a former vice-chairman of the government of the Xizang autonomous region, has been given a suspended death sentence for taking bribes, a court in Hunan province announced.

The Chenzhou Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Wang to death for bribery with a two-year reprieve. The court deprived him of his political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of all his personal assets. All of Wang’s illicit gains and related interests will be turned over to the State treasury.

In China, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life in prison after two years if the inmate commits no further crimes. The term can be further reduced based on the inmate’s behavior.

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