The Council of the EU on Dec. 15 renewed its sanctions on Venezuela for another year. The restrictions, which cover 69 people, now run until Jan. 10, 2027.
The Council of the European Union on Dec. 15 sanctioned three people and one entity related to gang violence and human rights abuses in Haiti. The designations target Michel Martelly, former president of Haiti, and Youri Latortue, Martelly's former political adviser, who were listed for arming and financing several gangs to promote their political and personal agendas. The council also sanctioned Rony Celestin, former senator of Haiti, for his links to various armed groups and "orchestrating" the murder of journalist Nehemie Joseph. The listed entity is Gang 5 Segond, a gang based in Port-au-Prince.
Australia last week launched what it called the world's first "autonomous sanctions framework" targeted toward Afghanistan, which it said will help it pressure Taliban officials who are oppressing the Afghan people. The measures put in place an arms embargo against Afghanistan, which blocks Australians from supplying arms or related materials or services to the country, and designate multiple Taliban officials, according to Australia's consolidated sanctions list, including various ministers and the group's "Chief Justice."
The EU this week announced new sanctions against Russia and created a new way for the bloc to designate people and entities involved in Belarus-related foreign information manipulation and interference.
The U.S. granted sanctions relief this week for three Belarusian potash companies, days after the country's government freed political prisoners, reportedly in exchange for the eased sanctions.
Gregory LoGerfo, President Donald Trump’s nominee for counterterrorism coordinator at the State Department, said Dec. 11 that he would encourage other countries to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week removed sanctions from Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes; his wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes; and the Brazil-based Lex Institute, which his wife leads. OFAC sanctioned the judge and Lex earlier this year after accusing him of using his position to "authorize arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppress freedom of expression."
The U.K. added four people to its Sudan sanctions regime on Dec. 12 for their leadership positions in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese paramilitary force waging war in Sudan. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation listed Gedo Hamdan Ahmed; Abdul Rahim Hamdan Daglo, RSF lieutenant general; Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, RSF brigadier general; and Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed, RSF field commander.
Companies with touchpoints to the U.S.-Mexico supply chain are facing more compliance risks amid the Trump administration's focus on sanctioning Mexican drug cartels, including measures to label them as terror groups, the Bradley law firm said in a Dec. 9 client alert.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned several people, companies and ships connected to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the country's shipping and energy sectors.