The United Nations Security Council on Feb. 26 issued three new sanctions for terrorism activity in Somalia. The UNSC designated Abukar Ali Adan, deputy leader of the terrorist group al-Shabaab; Maalim Ayman, founder and leader of Jaysh Ayman, a unit of al-Shabaab; and Mahad Karate, who “played a key role” in Amniyat, the intelligence wing of al-Shabaab.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Mansur Al-Sa’adi and Ahmad ’Ali Ahsan al-Hamzi, who are responsible for organizing attacks by Houthi forces against Yemeni civilians, bordering nations and commercial ships, OFAC said March 2. OFAC said Al-Sa’adi is chief of staff for the Houthi Naval Forces and has helped smuggle Iranian weapons into Yemen. Al-Hamzi is the commander of Yemen’s Houthi-aligned Yemeni Air Force and Air Defense Forces and has also “acquired” Iranian weapons to use in Yemen.
The United Nations Security Council Feb. 25 threatened to impose sanctions on the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement if they don't stop recruiting fighters and begin peace talks with the Sudanese government. The UNSC said it will “consider listing those individuals or entities” that agreed to the peace deal, which includes various Sudanese rebel groups.
The United Nations Security Council renewed its sanctions regime targeting people and entities threatening peace in Yemen, it said in a Feb. 25 news release. The regime was extended for one year and will renew asset freezes and visa restrictions while allowing for exemptions for humanitarian aid. The UNSC also extended the mandate for its Panel of Experts on Yemen for 13 months.
Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Feb. 28 it doesn’t yet want to meet with European countries and the U.S. about the Iran nuclear deal, and called on the U.S. to lift sanctions before any meeting will take place. Iran said it “is not a good time for holding an unofficial meeting on the accord” because “there has been no change in the United States’ stances and behavior.” Iran also said the Biden administration has “not only failed to abandon [former President Donald] Trump’s failed policy of maximum pressure, but has also failed to declare its commitment” to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Once the U.S. lifts its sanctions, Iran said, it will return to the deal. The U.S. previously said it doesn’t plan to lift sanctions on Iran until the two sides meet (see 2102220049).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Ahmad Hassan Mohammed al Asiri, Saudi Arabia’s former deputy head of the General Intelligence Presidency, and the country’s Rapid Intervention Force for their involvement in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. They were designated under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for human rights violations, OFAC said Feb. 26.
The State Department designated Dobroslav Trnka, a former prosecutor general for the Slovak Republic, for corruption, the agency said Feb. 25. The State Department also designated his son, Jakub Trnka. The designation “reaffirms U.S. commitment to combating corruption in Slovakia.”
The U.N. Security Council amended 92 entries on its sanctions list for entries associated with ISIL (Da’esh) and al‑Qaida, the UNSC said Feb. 23. The update made “technical amendments” to the entries.
The United Nations Security Council amended one sanctions entry related to the Central African Republic, a Feb. 22 notice said. The change updates and revises identifying information for Bi Sidi Souleman, who was sanctioned last year (see 2008060019) for leading Retour, Reclamation, Rehabilitation, a militia group involved in warfare and illegal arms trafficking.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two people involved in Myanmar’s military coup carried out earlier this month, OFAC said Feb. 22. The designations target Moe Myint Tun and Maung Maung Kyaw, who the State Department said are members of Myanmar's State Administrative Council. The move follows previous U.S. sanctions imposed on Myanmar this month, along with increased export restrictions (see 2102110020).