Pres. Ali denies using U.S. lobbying firm to target Mohamed

Jul 02, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday denied that his government is using a U.S.-based lobbying firm to target businessman and presidential candidate of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed, amid growing controversy surrounding a series of draft tweets linking Mohamed to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The issue erupted after documents filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) revealed that Continental Strategy LLC, a lobbying firm contracted by the Government of Guyana, had drafted tweets describing Mohamed as a “pro-Maduro puppet” and a threat to regional democracy.
The five proposed tweets were submitted to a U.S. congressional office and were part of the lobbying firm’s activities on behalf of the Guyanese government.

However, during a side-line interview, President Ali acknowledged that the government had indeed hired Continental Strategy, but strongly denied that the contract was intended to target Mohamed or any political opponent.

“The government has hired no lobbying firm to target anyone,” President Ali said firmly.

When pressed about the rationale behind the firm’s messaging connecting Mohamed to the Venezuelan regime, the president deflected, instead highlighting broader concerns about Venezuela’s threat to Guyana’s sovereignty.

“You know we have a threat with Venezuela. Venezuela has threatened the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Guyana. We have serious danger with Venezuela, Venezuela brought their navy vessel into our waters. So, we have the capability that is necessary with our allies to keep them informed and to work with us in ensuring that at the diplomatic level, our message and our communication is intact,” President Ali said.

Again, when asked specifically why documents filed on behalf of the Guyanese government linked Mohamed to Venezuela, President Ali denied any such connection.

“I don’t know how you’re linking this to Azruddin Mohamed,” he stated. However, the president did go on to reference Mohamed’s legal status. “He is sanctioned by the United States. He is sanctioned by OFAC. When you are sanctioned by OFAC, you are in breach of major international laws. That is what Azruddin Mohamed is. It is not the Government of Guyana who sanctioned him., it is the United States of America,” he said.

Details of the lobbying Agreement

According to public filings with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Government of Guyana entered a six-month contract with Continental Strategy LLC in December 2024. The contract is worth US$50,000 per month and outlines that the firm would provide lobbying and government relations services to Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim, according to the filing, is to: (1) increase U.S. trade and investment in Guyana; (2) assist in financial sector reforms; and (3) raise Guyana’s profile in the United States. The firm’s duties include lobbying, preparing and disseminating informational materials, and engaging directly with U.S. policymakers.

On June 23, John Barsa, a partner at Continental Strategy, emailed the Director of Communications for U.S. Congressman Carlos Gimenez, sharing the five draft tweets. In the email, Barsa clarified he was sending the material “on behalf of the Government of Guyana.”

The drafted tweets read as follows:

“US-sanctioned gold mogul Azruddin Mohamed is running for president in Guyana. This isn’t just a local scandal—it’s a warning. The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold for democracy, not a playground for authoritarian influence.”

“A sanctioned Maduro ally running for president in Guyana? This isn’t just politics—it’s a red flag. The Western Hemisphere must not become a safe haven for authoritarian expansion.”

“Venezuela’s attempt to encroach into Guyana through pro-Maduro puppet Azruddin Mohamed’s presidential run is alarming. The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold of freedom—not a breeding ground for communist dictatorships.”

“Maduro’s sanctioned puppet Azruddin Mohamed running for president in Guyana is Venezuela’s latest attempt to creep into a sovereign democracy. The Western Hemisphere must reject authoritarian influence. #Guyana #Venezuela #FreedomFirst”

“U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, seen as sympathetic to Maduro-style politics.”

These tweets were included in Continental Strategy’s public filing with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Azruddin Mohamed responds

In a statement on Tuesday, Azruddin Mohamed strongly condemned the lobbying campaign, claiming it was a deliberate attempt by the PPP-led government to discredit him using taxpayer funds.

“It has emerged beyond any reasonable doubt that the PPP-led Government of Guyana has used taxpayer funds to finance the U.S. lobbying firm to launch a campaign aimed at falsely portraying me as an agent of the Maduro regime in Venezuela,” Mohamed said.

He rejected any affiliation with Venezuela’s government. “My father is Essequibo-born. I would never betray the soil my family is rooted in. I stand firmly for Guyana’s sovereignty—I always have and always will.”

Mohamed further accused the government of using misinformation to harm his candidacy and endanger his family, stating, “What we are witnessing is not foreign policy. Once again, this is the PPP using a foreign nation to attack me, my reputation, and my credibility. By falsely linking me to a hostile regime, the government is deliberately placing my safety and that of my family at risk.”

He further claimed that this was not the first time such tactics had been used, asserting that the Government’s objective was to “delegitimize my candidacy through deception and fearmongering.”

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• Azruddin Mohamed, Irfaan Ali, Nicolás Maduro, U.S. lobbying firm, We Invest in Nationhood

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