November saw the US impose sanctions on Israeli technology provider NSO Group and the Eritrean military and ruling party in connection with instability in Ethiopia as well as EU legislation aimed at expanding sanctions on Belarus:
- On 3rd November 2021 the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) added the Israeli information security technology company NSO Group to its entity list, prohibiting US entities from exporting technology to the company or re-exporting technology to it from third parties based elsewhere. The designation was imposed due to NSO Group’s development and distribution of spyware used by authoritarian regimes in repression of civil society and other actors both within their borders and internationally. Three other technology firms, Candiru (Israel), Positive Technologies (Russia) and Computer Security Initiative Consultancy Pte Ltd (Singapore), were added to the BIS list for the same reason.
- The US has sanctioned the Eritrean Defence Force and the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (“PFDJ”), led by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, further to its introduction of a programme in September 2021 targeting individuals contributing to instability in northern Ethiopia. Eritrean forces have supported Ethiopian troops in their battle against the rebel Tigray People Liberation Front (“TPLF”). The US has roundly condemned the hostilities, accusing all sides of committing atrocities, and has threatened to impose measures on the Ethiopian government and the TPLF.
- In reaction to Belarussian moves aimed at facilitating the illegal entry of migrants into Poland to claim asylum, the EU has altered its legislation, allowing it to sanction actors contributing to the crisis. The measure is widely expected to be used in the near future against Belarussian national airline BelAvia, which has been transporting migrants from their home countries into Belarus. Elsewhere, the UK has introduced legislation which will see its sanctions programme against Belarus enforced in the Isle of Man and British Overseas Territories.
- The US continues to oppose the construction of the now-almost completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russian and Germany. In November, a Russian pipe laying vessel and its parent company were sanctioned by the US. German efforts to assuage US concerns over the project appear to be making headwind in the Biden administration, and the two countries are expected to make a joint statement regarding Nord Stream 2 in the near future.
- On 11th November the US, EU and UK sanctioned senior Houthi military leaders in Yemen over their involvement in military actions in Marib in Saudi Arabia. The designations followed measures imposed by the UN Security Council against the same individuals.
- The US has imposed measures under its Global Magnitsky sanctions programme, against two senior Cambodian military figures, Chau Phirun (Director-General of the Cambodian Defence Ministry’s Material and Technical Services Department) and Tea Vinh (Royal Cambodian Navy Commander), due to their involvement in significant corruption; both were accused of skimming state funds meant for the construction of a naval base.
- The US has terminated its Burundi sanctions programme, which had been in place since 2015. The termination sees sanctions against eight powerful military and security officials lifted following reforms introduced by current President Évariste Ndayishimiye.
