American lobbyist who met Kiir last week was once convicted for links with a terrorist sponsor – Academic

JUBA – American lobbyist and former congressman Mark Lijlanders who led a delegation last week to meet President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba was once convicted for lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about his links to a terrorist sponsor, according to academic Jok Madut Jok.

Last week, a delegation of former congressmen and businessmen met Kiir in Juba and promised to pursue the Biden administration for removal of sanctions imposed by the American government on the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

But Madut said the delegation was led by an American former congressman who was once convicted for obstruction of justice when he lied to the American crimes investigator about his link to the Islamic-American Relief Agency, an organization that is said to have funded terror activities.

“The government of South Sudan under President Kiir, desperate for respect in community of nations, has really cheapened state house by inviting or allowing any conman who claims to have ability to lobby western government for a fee to change their image about government in Juba,” Madut wrote in a thread on Twitter.

“The man who showed up in Juba last week, Mark Lijlanders, posing as lobbyist, is a former Congressman from Kalamazoo, MI, who was once convicted of obstruction of Justice when he lied to FBI about his link to a terrorist sponsor called Islamic-American Relief Agency,” he added.

He said the former congressman “was in Juba to offer his lobbying services, promising to help Juba through off sanctions and UN Security Council arms embargo. He was received with fanfare. No one asked what connections a former Republican; convicted congressman could have to Biden’s government!”