Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 171

171st PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 171st 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 Aug 13, 2026, and Sep 27, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa Resigns as Indonesia’s Finance Minister

One noteworthy event has occurred in Indonesia, Indonesia has removed Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as finance minister in the latest shake-up of the country’s financial leadership, which has also seen changes to the central bank.

President Prabowo Subianto has named deputy finance minister Suahasil Nazara as the new finance minister. He replaces Purbaya, who took over from Sri Mulyani Indrawati last September.

The news comes just seven weeks after central bank governor Perry Warjiyo’s surprise resignation. While he cited personal reasons for his departure, Wisnu Setiadi Nugroho, deputy head of the department of economics at Indonesia’s Gadjah Mada University, told The Banker at the time that it had been an “open secret” that Warjiyo had been under pressure from the government to step down due to disputes over the rupiah’s exchange rate. Destry Damayanti, senior deputy governor, was named as the new central bank governor.

Liberia President Boakai Appoints Oswald Tweh Acting Defense Minister

Shifting our focus to Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has appointed Cllr. Oswald Natu Tweh as acting Minister of National Defense, just nine days after removing him as Minister of Justice and Attorney General and announcing that he would be reassigned elsewhere in government.

The appointment was among a new round of personnel changes announced by the Executive Mansion, affecting the Ministries of National Defense, Commerce and Industry, and Local Government, along with the National Food Assistance Agency and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission.

Tweh’s move to Defense answers one of the questions left open following the September 2 shake-up at the Ministry of Justice. At the time, President Boakai appointed Cllr. Betty M. Lamin-Blamo as Justice Minister and Cllr. Abrahim Boimah Sillah, Sr. as Solicitor General, while the Executive Mansion said Tweh and former Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah would be reassigned to other positions in government.

Niger Junta Chief Tiani Appoints Mamane Sani Kiaou as Military Chief

In Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani appointed Brigadier General Mamane Sani Kiaou as chief of staff of the armed forces through a decree announced on state television late on Friday, 11 September.

Kiaou replaces Major General Moussa Salaou Barmou, who had led Niger’s military since shortly after the July 2023 coup that removed former President Mohamed Bazoum.

The government did not publicly explain why Barmou was replaced. However, the change follows the most serious internal military challenge to Tiani’s government since it took power three years ago.

The Associated Press reported⁠ that Kiaou is an experienced battlefield commander who has led operations in Tillabéri and Diffa, two regions badly affected by attacks linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

RBI Fines Azamgarh District Cooperative Bank ₹1.15 Lakh for CIC and KYC Violations

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated September 09, 2026, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.15 lakh (Rupees One Lakh and Fifteen Thousand only) on Jilla Sahakari Bank Ltd., Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Membership of Credit Information Companies (CICs) by Co-operative Banks’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 25(1)(iii) read with Section 23(4) of Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005 and under Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949

The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2025. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

The bank had:

failed to report credit information of its borrowers to all Credit Information Companies; and

failed to upload the KYC records of customers onto Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR) within the prescribed timeline.

Former Nepal Lawmaker Ichchha Raj Tamang Sentenced to 5.5 Years for Cooperative Fraud

Shifting our attention to Nepal, the Kathmandu District Court has sentenced former lawmaker and businessman Ichchha Raj Tamang to five years and six months in prison in a case involving fraud at Civil Cooperative and organised crime.

A bench led by Judge Krita Bahadur Bohara handed down the sentence, finding Tamang guilty of the charges. The court also fined him Rs 50,000.

Tamang, a former member of Parliament, was among 17 people convicted in the case. The court imposed different prison terms and fines on the defendants based on their respective offences.

Those convicted alongside Tamang include Prabin Prasad Pradhan, Keshalal Shrestha, Ram Krishna Poudel, Harihar Prasad Lamichhane, Danahira Tuladhar Kansakar, Sirjana Shakya Tamang, Lalkaji Gurung, Durga Prasad Sangraula, Jayandra Lal Shrestha, Khem Nath Dallakoti, Mukunda Prasad Neupane, Nagendra Bimali, Ram Raj Maskey, Hari Prasad Risal and Meena Gurung.

Read about the product: Data Asset Builder

Empower your organization with ZIGRAM’s integrated RegTech solutions – Book a Demo