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Liz David-Barrett

@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social
473 followers 164 following 32 posts

Director of the Centre for the Study of Corruption, University of Sussex

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Liz David-Barrett @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
thehill.com/opinion/judi...
thehill.com
The dismantling of USAID and the firing of its staff was illegal
The administration knew it could not fire career employees for their politics or for invented misconduct, so it dressed the purge as a “reorganization.”
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Prof Robert Barrington @csc-barrington.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
What is the purpose of football? My colleague Dan Hough explores FIFA, integrity and the events of the World Cup @sussexscsc.bsky.social @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social blogs.sussex.ac.uk/centre-for-t...
blogs.sussex.ac.uk
The 2026 FIFA World Cup; Power, money and a fundamental lack of integrity | Centre for the Study of Corruption
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
New on KickBack: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with @csc-barrington.bsky.social about *Corrupted Kingdom*, Britain’s decline in public integrity, weaknesses in accountability and what it will take to rebuild trust. Listen: Spotify: bit.ly/4hiYY0h SoundCloud: bit.ly/4ho1RwK
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
📣 Join us next Wednesday (27 May) for a #GIACE roundtable: ‘How to recover from state capture: lessons for Hungary from South Africa, Sri Lanka, and beyond’. 🗓️ Wednesday 27 May 🕰️ 1pm to 2pm (BST) 🔗 Register: bit.ly/4w6mQcF
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
📣 Join us on Wednesday 27 May for a #GIACE roundtable: ‘How to recover from state capture: lessons for Hungary from South Africa, Sri Lanka, and beyond’. 🗓️ Wednesday 27 May 🕰️ 1pm to 2pm (BST) 🔗 Register: bit.ly/4w6mQcF
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
🚨 The April 2026 edition of the GI ACE Newsletter was published yesterday! 🔗 Read the newsletter: bit.ly/4d09So7 🔗 Subscribe to newsletter: bit.ly/4tNECzR
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
📣 Synthesis of #GIACE research on illicit financial flows published ‘Fighting illicit financial flows: key learnings from GI ACE research’, authored by GI ACE Researcher @devipillay.co.za, synthesises publications produced by the CSC-hosted research programme between 2020 and February 2026.
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
48 hours later and the only outlet to follow up this story has been the National in Scotland Call me old fashioned but think destroying information with a legal hold on it and a disclosure to Serious Fraud is pretty important stuff open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
open.substack.com
Labour Together PR firm tried to destroy crucial evidence
Controversial firm reported to Serious Fraud Office after senior executive ordered deletion of evidence of Labour Together’s smear campaign against journalists
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
📼 The recording of last week’s GI ACE seminar ‘Addressing corruption in crisis situations: towards effective crisis-responses in the Malawian health system’ is now available to watch on YouTube: bit.ly/42hH2KN
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
“They’ve learned from Hungary that you have to change the voting rules. That’s how autocrats win elections - by rigging the system. That’s exactly what Trump has been trying to do.” Vital conversation w/ @kimlanelaw.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale democracyforsale.substack.com/p/trumps-nex...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Trump’s next move is being tested in Hungary
I speak to Kim Lane Scheppele about Orbán, Trump and how MAGA is following the Hungarian playbook
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
A recurring theme w/ MAGA/radical right is *endlessly* accusing their enemies (falsely) of doing why they are *actually* doing It’s Orban who spent fortune interfering in politics outside Hungary Including paying Reform’s Matt Goodwin €10k a month democracyforsale.substack.com/p/orbans-brits
democracyforsale.substack.com
What happens to Britain's radical right if Orbán loses?
Inside the money, power and patronage connecting Hungary and the British right
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
📃 New working paper: Madagascar at a crossroads: breaking the cycle of state capture Authored by Dafy Faramalala Andriamparany, @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, Ketakandriana Rafitoson, and Tom Shipley. Access the paper in both French and English: bit.ly/4aTWx0L
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
📼 The recording of our second GI ACE seminar held in collaboration with the Illicit Finance Data Lab, ‘Sourcing data for the next generation of illicit finance research’, is now available to watch on YouTube: bit.ly/4bcmgAj
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
KB – Episode 145🎙️ @csc-barrington.bsky.social speaks with @marianizzero.bsky.social about research reframing kleptocracy as a transnational criminal enterprise, and the implications for UK asset recovery and national security. 🎧 Spotify bit.ly/SpotifyKBep145 🎧 SoundCloud bit.ly/SoundCloudKB...
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Open Ownership @openownership.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Opening remarks were delivered by Alanna Markle (OO), Yara Esquivel (WBG), and @thomtownsend.bsky.social (OO), and the keynote speech was delivered by @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social (CSC/US). We look forward to engaging discussions over the next two days.
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
🚨 The February 2026 edition of the GI ACE Newsletter is out now! 🔗 Read this month’s newsletter: bit.ly/4aIui5b 🔗 Subscribe to receive future editions via email: bit.ly/4rxx8j4
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Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 19/02/2026
“U.S. foreign policy is now largely subordinate to the private interests of the president and his retainers,” write @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social and @dhnexon.bsky.social.
foreignaffairs.com
The Age of Kleptocracy
Geopolitical power, private gain.
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
🎙️ New KickBack episode Why do liberation movements that fight for freedom so often succumb to corruption once in power? 🧵
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Lord Peter Hain about Liberation and Corruption, exploring state capture, global finance, and the lessons from South Africa and beyond.
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
📼 Our latest GI ACE seminar, 'The promise and perils of using leaked and sensitive data to research illicit finance’, is available: bit.ly/4ciYrZI Thank you to @szakonyi.bsky.social, Tom Mayne, and @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social. The event was held in collaboration with the Illicit Finance Data Lab.
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Liz David-Barrett @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Check out the latest research news from the Centre for the Study of Corruption and the GI ACE programme!
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Join us on 5 Feb 2026 (2–3pm GMT) for a GI ACE seminar on using leaked & sensitive data to research illicit finance, with @szakonyi.bsky.social and Tom Mayne, chaired by @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social. In collaboration with the Illicit Finance Data Lab. Register here: bit.ly/3ZkcV3U
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Our first Kickback episode of 2026 🎙️ @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Anna Persson on why anticorruption reforms fail, systemic corruption as collective action, and why transparency alone isn’t enough. 🎧 bit.ly/SpotifyKB142 🎧 bit.ly/SoundCloudKB... 🎧 bit.ly/AppleKB142
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Liz David-Barrett @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Lots of food for thought here over the holidays!
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
New KickBack episode: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Naomi Roht-Arriaza on how grand corruption undermines human rights, blocks post-conflict justice, and why recognising victims and broader reparations matters. Listen: bit.ly/AppleKB141 | bit.ly/SoundCloudKBep141
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
New GI ACE blog: How can the IMF help counter state capture? @tshipley1.bsky.social & @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social explore the Fund’s growing role, its leverage in reforms, and the risks that could hold it back. Read more: bit.ly/StateCapture...
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Part 3 of #GIACE’s blog series is out! @devipillay.co.za unpacks the Zondo Commission’s 353 recommendations and why South Africa’s post-capture reforms remain uneven. Key gaps persist in law enforcement and whistle-blower protection. Read more: bit.ly/GIACEPart3
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Professional enablers often work behind the scenes—but their influence can drive corruption and state capture. Join our GI ACE roundtable with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, @devipillay.co.za, Alex Cooley, @jheathershaw.bsky.social, Corentin Cohen and @tenaprelec.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/GIACERoundtable
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Consultants, capture, and kleptocrats: how professional service providers enable corruption
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Emily Elia @emilyelia.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
I had such a fun time speaking with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social on the KickBack podcast about the role that both voters and women officeholders can play in electoral accountability for corruption in Latin America. Thanks for having me on @kickbackgap.bsky.social!
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Today’s #GIACEseminar was a lively dive into how illicit finance is reshaping tourism and hospitality. Thank you to Jean-Patrick Villeneuve, @ofabianobomfim.bsky.social, Dieter Zinnbauer, @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social and all the participants who joined! Learn more: bit.ly/corruptionin...
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
🚨The Nov GI ACE Newsletter is out! From real estate money laundering to sanctions evasion & a new blog on anti-money-laundering in the Global South — explore the latest from the GI ACE network. 🔗Read: bit.ly/GIACENewsletter_7 🔗SUB: bit.ly/NewsletterSUB
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme (Uni. of Sussex)
Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme (Uni. of Sussex) Email Forms
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
New KB episode: @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks with József Péter Martin and Áron Hajnal about research on Hungary, state capture dynamics, EU conditionality, and scenarios ahead of April 2026. Listen: Soundcloud: bit.ly/47cGU2J #Governance #StateCapture #EU #Hungary
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139. Áron Hajnal & József Péter Martin on systemic corruption in Hungary
Hungary, once seen as a democratic success story is now widely recognized as one of the EU's most corrupt member states. Regular KB host Liz David-Barrett sits down with József Péter Martin and Áron H
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
This month in GI ACE: new insights on corruption in carbon markets, state capture and legal accountability. Watch, read and listen to the latest research from across the GI ACE network. 🔗Full October newsletter: bit.ly/GIACENewsletter6 🔗Subscribe here: bit.ly/NewsletterSUB
bit.ly
GI ACE Newsletter: Latest News & Updates
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KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast @kickbackgap.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
How do consulting giants enable state capture? @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks to @devipillay.co.za on McKinsey’s role in South Africa, drawing on the Zondo Commission. 🔗Listen: bit.ly/KBspotify138 🔗Paper: lnkd.in/eczS5NAM #StateCapture #SouthAfrica #AntiCorruption
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Mo Ibrahim Foundation @mo.ibrahim.foundation · 01/10/2025
🌍 Applications are open for the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship at ITC (Geneva). Work with a UN–WTO agency supporting SMEs in developing countries, contribute to trade strategies, and take part in high-level discussions. Deadline: 20/11/25 🔗 Apply now: mo.ibrahim.foundation/fellowships
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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Really enjoyed chatting cleaning up politics with @politicshome.bsky.social along with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social, @danieljbruce.bsky.social and Lloyd Hatton MP. Lots to do still...
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Join us on 18 September as we kickoff our first #GIACESeminar with Dan Marks & @jenniferscotland.bsky.social from @rusi.bsky.social, and reflections from Pablo Fernandez (EcoSecurities). 📖 Scoping Corruption in Voluntary Carbon Markets 🕰️ 12:30–1:30 PM (UK time) 🔗 bit.ly/GIACESeminar1
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
#GIACE hosted our Mid-Year Conference (8–9 Sept) with researchers, Fellows, FCDO & CSO partners. Day 1 featured multiple panels on research themes, ending with a roundtable on the Changing Global Order. Day 2 focused on impact - turning research into real-world solutions and more. bit.ly/giaceconf
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social co-chaired a panel on state capture at the @ecpr.bsky.social annual meeting in Thessaloniki. Our takeaway: Tackling capture means understanding not just corruption itself, but the mechanisms & motivations that make states vulnerable. Recap blog> bit.ly/ecprconferen...
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Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte @turnbulldugarte.com · 05/09/2025
Radical right accommodation really does not work. New paper out with this exceptionally talented team @katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk doi.org/10.31235/osf...
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Liz David-Barrett @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
New paper! Q: Does State Capture Facilitate Strategic Corruption? www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... A: Not necessarily. Even where states are deeply captured, supra-national and domestic institutions with oversight functions can create regulatory barriers
tandfonline.com
Does State Capture Facilitate Strategic Corruption?
Scholars have suggested that great powers seeking to engage in strategic corruption, particularly through corrosive capital, target countries where there are governance weaknesses. This article res...
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Keele World Affairs @keeleworldaffairs.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Masking who wields real influence …..? Time to introduce a comprehensive statutory lobbying register to shine a light on lobbying whatever name it goes by….? @danieljbruce.bsky.social @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social
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ICIJ @icij.org · 28/07/2025
Portugal’s Attorney General has launched a probe into possible corruption involving Portuguese construction firm Zagope and the eldest son of Equatorial Guinea’s longtime dictator, following an exposé by ICIJ and its media partners. Read our latest: www.icij.org/news/2025/07...
icij.org
Portugal launches probe into construction giant’s dealings with Equatorial Guinea’s vice president - ICIJ
The president’s son, known as Teodorin, has repeatedly caught the attention of international authorities, including in France where a messy legal battle is underway after French authorities seized…
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Centre for the Study of Corruption (CSC) @sussexscsc.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
📚 Highlights from the CSC Summer Academy! Two days of rich discussion on state capture, grand corruption, integrity in sport, and more. Interested in anti-corruption? Apply to our MA in Corruption & Governance: lnkd.in/e-vEK2sb #AntiCorruption #GoodGovernance #CSC
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Liz David-Barrett @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Thanks Mo @mo.ibrahim.foundation for a really fascinating discussion about #anticorruption, #goodgovernance, #aid and #doingbusiness in Africa!
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Liz David-Barrett @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Check out this very frank and open conversation with Mo Ibrahim about how to tackle corruption and improve governance in Africa!
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Prof Robert Barrington @csc-barrington.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
David Lammy has announced a UK-led Summit on illicit financial flows- will it deliver in tackling kleptocracy and corruption? blogs.sussex.ac.uk/centre-for-t... @spotlightcorruption.org @racheldavies.bsky.social @duncanhames.bsky.social @sussexscsc.bsky.social @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social
blogs.sussex.ac.uk
The Lammy Summit: global leadership – or niche and unambitious? | Centre for the Study of Corruption
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Keele World Affairs @keeleworldaffairs.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Is it now time for national and international law to designate the “kleptocratic enterprise” of elites and professionals as a form of serious organised crime? @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social @danieljbruce.bsky.social theconversation.com/come-meet-us...
theconversation.com
‘Come meet us in Dubai’: the new offshoring of grand corruption
Sensitive business is moving towards more permissive jurisdictions in response to tighter regulations and greater media attention.
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Keele World Affairs @keeleworldaffairs.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
@danieljbruce.bsky.social shared his insights on global corruption with us in Feb ‘22, and @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social joined us in Nov ‘22 to talk about #statecapture You can view both via our archive www.kwaku.org.uk/Video.html
kwaku.org.uk
Keele World Affairs - KWA Archive Video
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Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence (GI ACE) @giace.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Financial institutions are the arteries of modern economies—but when captured, they become pipelines for illicit wealth. @acdatacollective.bsky.social's new brief "Inside the Congo Hold-Up" shows how BGFIBank DRC was hijacked by the Kabila regime to launder public funds. 🔗 bit.ly/ACDCPolicyBr...
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Inside the Congo Hold-Up: How a Captured Bank Enabled Grand Corruption - Governance & Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence
This briefing reveals how BGFIBank DRC was transformed into a vehicle for grand corruption by Congo’s ruling elite. It details how illicit financial flows were enabled through mis-invoicing, fictitiou...
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