News

Sanctions Notice - Somalia

10th March 2015

Please be advised that there have been some developments to the Bailiwick’s sanctions regime in relation to Somalia, which are set out below. Measures which should be taken as a result are set out at the end of this notice.

Council Regulation (EU) 356/2010, as implemented by the Somalia (Restrictive Measures) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2012, the Somalia (Restrictive Measures) (Alderney) Ordinance, 2012 and the Somalia (Restrictive Measures) (Sark) Ordinance, 2012, has been amended by Council Regulation (EU) No 2015/335.  The effect of the amendment, which is automatically and immediately effective in the Bailiwick, is to authorise UN Member States to inspect in Somali territorial waters and on the high seas off the coast of Somalia vessels bound to or from Somalia, where there are reasonable grounds to believe that they are carrying charcoal in violation of the charcoal ban, or weapons or military equipment in violation of the arms embargo or weapons or military equipment to designated individuals or entities.

The 2010 Regulation has been further amended by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2015/337.  The effect of this amendment is to remove MOHAMED SA'ID from the list of designated individuals subject to financial restrictions.  This amendment is also automatically and immediately effective in the Bailiwick.

MEASURES WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN

All businesses must check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise hold any funds or economic resources for any person designated under the legislation listed above and treat any such accounts, funds or economic resources as frozen with immediate effect if this is not already the case.  They must report any findings to the Policy Council immediately.  Businesses must also refrain from making any funds or economic resources available directly or indirectly to any designated person unless licensed by the Policy Council.

The information referred to above is required by the Policy Council in the exercise of its powers under the Schedule to each of the Ordinances listed above.

Businesses must also familiarise themselves with the amendments to prohibited activity in respect of Somalia.

Any information or queries should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line 'Somalia sanctions'.

Further information on the effect of asset freezes and related issues including licences is available on the States of Guernsey website at http://www.gov.gg/sanctions