Key sanctions updates over the past month have included the imposition of US sanctions against those involved in violence in Ethiopia, the US clarifying its position on the provision of humanitarian goods to Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover as well as a number of additions to existing measures against actors in Myanmar and Iran.
- On 17th September 2021 OFAC introduced a new sanctions programme targeting those deemed to have been involved in perpetuating violence in the north of the country. The region has suffered several violent episodes due to conflict between the Ethiopian National Defence Forces and the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front, which controls much of the north. Both sides have been accused of committing atrocities and the US measures mean that government officials and military leaders can be sanctioned in addition to armed opposition factions, as well as those seen to be obstructing peace efforts.
- The US has released two general licences in respect of its Afghanistan programme which authorise the delivery of humanitarian goods and services to the country. These activities would otherwise have been affected by US sanctions on dealing with the Taliban. The exemptions apply to transactions involved in the exportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices and other goods essential for basic human needs.
- The EU appears set to tighten sanctions measures on Lebanon following the adaptation of a strongly worded resolution passed by the European Parliament in September 2021 condemning Lebanese political parties for their role in the country’s ongoing economic crisis. Further measures may be taken against individual politicians who seek to contest the mandate of the newly formed government, led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and efforts to resolve the country’s dire economic situation. There have been several accusations in the media that members of the country’s political and economic elite have co-operated to block an IMF-led bailout in order to protect their interests in the Lebanese banking sector.
- The US has updated its sanctions programme against Russia following the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny in 2020. The updated sanctions measures, enacted under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, mean that the US will oppose any multilevel development bank assistance offered to Russia and prohibit any US bank from making any loans to the Russian government. It has also instituted a ban on the importation of weapons and ammunition manufactured in Russia.
- The UK has further increased pressure on Myanmar by sanctioning prominent businessman Tay Za, who is the majority shareholder of the Htoo Group of Companies. The Htoo conglomerate has interests across Myanmar’s aviation, construction, timber, shipping, mining and tourism sectors. The UK accuses Za of supporting the country’s military junta and participating in deals which violated an arms embargo on the country’s military. Several rounds of sanctions against Myanmese government entities and businesspersons have been imposed since the February 2021 military-led coup.
- Elsewhere, there have been several new designations by the US of individuals accused of supporting Al Qaida and Hezbollah and the first ever sanctioning of a cryptocurrency exchange for facilitating ransomware payments. There have also been a number of prosecutions of persons in the US over the course of the month for violations of Iran and North Korea sanctions programmes.
