GEORGETOWN, Guyana — In a bold political move that has stunned many across the Caribbean, billionaire businessman Azruddin Mohammed has announced his intention to contest Guyana’s presidency in the upcoming general elections set for September 1, 2025.
Mohammed, who remains under U.S. sanctions for alleged large-scale corruption, made his candidacy known via a video broadcast, stating, “I come not as a politician, but as a son of this soil with a vision for a united, forward-moving Guyana.”
His entry into the race introduces a complex dynamic in a nation still grappling with issues of transparency and governance. Despite facing international scrutiny, Mohammed emphasized a platform built on equality, opportunity, and a reimagined national identity. “The time has come for new leadership that speaks the language of the people and is unafraid to challenge the status quo,” he said.
The announcement follows President Irfaan Ali’s weekend declaration of the election date, which had already heightened political tensions. Now, with Mohammed’s bid, that tension is set to escalate.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Mohammed, his father Nazar, their business Mohamed’s Enterprise, and affiliated entities in 2023 under Executive Order 13818, citing their involvement in “significant public corruption.” Among the accusations were systematic gold smuggling, tax evasion, and the laundering of millions of dollars through under-declared exports between 2019 and 2023 — leading to an estimated US$50 million loss in government revenue.
Despite the gravity of these allegations, Mohammed appears undeterred. While U.S. authorities claim he exploited Guyana’s fractured gold sector for personal gain, Mohammed has not been charged with a crime in Guyana and remains a free man with considerable local support.
Critics argue that his presidential ambitions are an attempt to recast his public image and possibly gain immunity from potential legal consequences. Supporters, on the other hand, see him as a successful entrepreneur capable of shaking up an entrenched political landscape.
With the election clock ticking, Guyana faces a defining moment: will voters embrace a candidate under global scrutiny, or will the weight of international condemnation tip the scales? Either way, Azruddin Mohammed’s entrance into the race ensures the path to September will be anything but ordinary.
