Vanuatu revokes passport of Syrian businessman over US sanctions

Vanuatu has reportedly revoked the citizenship of a Syrian businessman after it came to light that several of his businesses are sanctioned by the US government.

Abdul Rahman Khiti is the first person to have purchased Vanuatu citizenship under the pacific island's controversial development support programme, which costs $130,000.

Businesses belonging to Abdul Rahman and his brother - Syrian MP Amera Khiti - were sanctioned, and after an investigation by The Guardian it was found that Abdul Rahman Khiti had been approved citizenship in the country but it was later revoked.

Ronald Warsal, chairman of the Vanuatu Citizenship Office and Commission told the publication: “Abdul Rahman Khiti’s application was lodged prior to sanctions on a number of his business and by the time his application came before the screening committee and the [Vanuatu’s Financial Intelligence Unit] FIU there was no adverse finding against him and the commission approved his application".

After Abdul Rahman's citizenship was revoked,  the money already paid was "forfeited into government coffers".

Vanuatu’s support programme, which netted more than $116 million in 2020, offers visa-free access to 130 countries, including EU states and the UK.

The brothers are criticised for their lavish lifestyle in the wake of Syria's worst economic crisis in history.

The price of staple products such as bread and diesel continues to spike in regime-held parts of war-torn Syria, bringing pain for civilians in the deepening financial crisis.