In 2019, Canadian lobby firm, Dickens & Madson Inc. signed a $6Mil deal with the Transitional Council of Sudan. Signed by the RSF's Dagalo to lobby the US, Russia, KSA, UN & AU — and to ensure favourable media coverage. The contract is still active.
theglobeandmail.com
theglobeandmail.com
The Canadian lobby firm is owned and run by no other than Ari Ben-Menashe, an Israeli ex-intelligence, and renowned war lord lobbyist. Calling him a shady character would be understatement.
nationalpost.com
nationalpost.com
Included in his "consultancy agreement" with Dagalo, Dickens & Madson also promised to:
"provide military training & security equipment to your military forces"
"strive to obtain funding & equipment for the Sudanese military"
efile.fara.gov
"provide military training & security equipment to your military forces"
"strive to obtain funding & equipment for the Sudanese military"
efile.fara.gov
Also included in this "consultancy agreement":
"We will strive to obtain funding for your Council from the Eastern Libyan Military Command in exchange for your military help to the LNA (Libyan National Army)."
Yes, warlord Gen. Khalifa Belqasim Haftar.
"We will strive to obtain funding for your Council from the Eastern Libyan Military Command in exchange for your military help to the LNA (Libyan National Army)."
Yes, warlord Gen. Khalifa Belqasim Haftar.
Ben-Menashe's organization has been providing public relations and lobbying services to several Libyan groups, including warlord Haftar's LNA.
Former clients include Myanmar's junta, among others — countries with similar state of affairs such as Sudan's and Libya's.
A recent client from 2023, the Office of the President of Burkina Faso. D&M promised to supply the country with weapons by air directly from Israel.
A recent client from 2023, the Office of the President of Burkina Faso. D&M promised to supply the country with weapons by air directly from Israel.
I digress.
During the 6-month period (July-Dec 2022) D&M were *still* representing two foreign principals related to Sudan: the military govt. (signed by Dagalo) and a private company.
During the 6-month period (July-Dec 2022) D&M were *still* representing two foreign principals related to Sudan: the military govt. (signed by Dagalo) and a private company.
Here's how they describe the work they were doing for the 'Sovereign Council of Sudan' during this period:
efile.fara.gov
efile.fara.gov
In the same period, D&M was also representing DPWORLD FZE, a Dubai based UAE (ehm...) shipping & logistics company with operations & assets in many Red Sea ports (including in Eritrea & Djibouti). Here's how they describe the work they were doing for that company:
Here are more detailed breakdowns of expenses associated with lobbying efforts for both UAE's DPWORLD and Sudan in 2019:
efile.fara.gov (pg. 14 'attachment 2')
efile.fara.gov (pg. 15 'attachment 2')
UAE payed $1,500,000 out of a $5,000,000 fee.
efile.fara.gov (pg. 14 'attachment 2')
efile.fara.gov (pg. 15 'attachment 2')
UAE payed $1,500,000 out of a $5,000,000 fee.
D&M names Dagalo in Jan 2019 ("Sovereign Council") filings & July 2019 filings ("Transitional Council"). The July 2019 filings also provide a fee breakdown from "The Transitional Military Council of Sudan". Ambiguity in the names D&M use for their warlord client.
In January 2020 Dagalo is still listed as a principal, six months after his RSF forces massacred pro-democracy activists in Khartoum.
Here's how D&M described their work with the 'Transitional Council of Sudan' at the time:
Smoke screens...
efile.fara.gov
Here's how D&M described their work with the 'Transitional Council of Sudan' at the time:
Smoke screens...
efile.fara.gov
In june 2021 onwards, filings stop explicitly mentioning Dagalo, but it's not clear if that means anything. Here's what D&M say they were up to during the previous 6-month period:
efile.fara.gov
efile.fara.gov
Jan 2022, work descriptions are basically the same:
efile.fara.gov
In July 2022 they claim they were helping with the "identification and instalment of a civilian prime minister":
efile.fara.gov
efile.fara.gov
In July 2022 they claim they were helping with the "identification and instalment of a civilian prime minister":
efile.fara.gov
Indefensible strengthening of the RSF.
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