Human Rights-Related Designations; Issuance of Global Magnitsky Frequently Asked Question; OFAC to retire its FTP server (OFACFTP.treas.gov) on or about June 10, 2024

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published a press release to inform about new sanction measures. Specifically, the Office added 22 individuals to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) due to their engagement in human rights violations pursuant to existing sanction regulations (Executive Order 13818 and 31 CFR Part 583). The affected persons are listed below.
ANDRE, Johnson (Latin: ANDRÉ, Johnson) (a.k.a. „IZO“; a.k.a. „IZO 5 SECONDS“; a.k.a. „IZO 5 SEGONN“; a.k.a. „IZO VILAJ DE DYE“), Village de Dieu, Martissant, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; DOB 1997; POB Haiti; nationality Haiti; citizen Haiti; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
ARDESTANI, Mohammad Mahdi Khanpour (Arabic: محمدمهدی خانپور اردستانی) (a.k.a. KHANI, Mohammad; a.k.a. KHANPUR, Ali Akbar; a.k.a. KHANPUR, Mohammad Mehdi Ali Akbar), Iran; Venezuela; DOB 21 Sep 1980; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Passport A37895565 (Iran) expires 25 Jul 2021; National ID No. 1189355825 (Iran) (individual) [IRAN-HR] (Linked To: IRANIAN MINISTRY OF INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY).
BIEL, Gordon Koang (a.k.a. BIEL, Gordon Koang Char; a.k.a. CHAR, Koang Biel; a.k.a. „NYALUALGO, Koang“), Koch County, Unity, South Sudan; Bentiu, Unity, South Sudan; DOB 1973 to 1975; POB Gany, South Sudan; nationality South Sudan; Gender Male (individual) [SOUTH SUDAN].
BOZIZE, Jean-Francis (a.k.a. BOZIZE, Jean Francis), Central African Republic; DOB 19 Feb 1970; POB Bangui, Central African Republic; nationality Central African Republic; citizen Central African Republic; alt. citizen France; Gender Male (individual) [CAR].
BYABASHAIJA, Johnson (a.k.a. BYABASAIJA, Johnson Christopher; a.k.a. BYABASHAIJA, Johnson Omuhunde Rwashote), Kampala, Uganda; DOB 27 Sep 1957; POB Kajure, Rukungiri District, Uganda; nationality Uganda; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
DESTINA, Renel (a.k.a. „TI LAPLI“; a.k.a. „TILAPLI“), Haiti; DOB 11 Jun 1982; POB Haiti; nationality Haiti; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
FARAHANI, Majid Dastjani (a.k.a. FARAHANI, Majid (Arabic: مجید فراهانی); a.k.a. FARAHANY, Majid Dastjany), Venezuela; Iran; DOB 26 Jul 1982; alt. DOB 27 Jul 1982; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; National ID No. 0076791629 (Iran) (individual) [IRAN-HR] (Linked To: IRANIAN MINISTRY OF INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY).
GAO, Qi (Chinese Simplified: 高琪), China; DOB Aug 1970; POB Linxian County, Shanxi Province, China; nationality China; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG] [UHRPA] (Linked To: XINJIANG PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU).
HANAFI, Khalid (a.k.a. HANAFI, Mohammad Khalid; a.k.a. HANAFI, Shaikh al-Hadith Mohammad Khalid; a.k.a. HANAFI, Shaykh Muhammad Khalid; a.k.a. „KHALID, Mohamad“), Afghanistan; DOB 1971 to 1972; POB Kolam Shaheed, Doabi, Nuristan, Afghanistan; nationality Afghanistan; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
HASSAN ALIYANI, Ahmed Mahamud (a.k.a. HASSAN, Ahmad Mahmoud; a.k.a. HASSAN, Ahmed Mahmoud), Congo, Democratic Republic of the; DOB 21 Jul 1997; POB Tanga, Tanzania; nationality Tanzania; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Passport AB850901 (Tanzania) expires 01 Dec 2026; alt. Passport AB187304 (Tanzania) expires 28 Nov 2016 (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO).
HOTH, Gatluak Nyang (a.k.a. „NYANGA, Hoth Gatluak“), Mayendit County, Unity, South Sudan; DOB 1982; POB Dablual Village, Mayendit County, Unity, South Sudan; nationality South Sudan; Gender Male (individual) [SOUTH SUDAN].
HU, Lianhe (Chinese Simplified: 胡联合), China; DOB 04 Oct 1967; POB Shaoyang, Hunan, China; nationality China; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
INNOCENT, Vitel’homme (a.k.a. INNOCENT, Vitel Homme; a.k.a. INNOCENT, Vitelhomme; a.k.a. VITEL’HOMME, Innocent; a.k.a. „VITEL HOMME“), Port-au-Prince, Haiti; DOB 08 Nov 1985 to 07 Nov 1986; nationality Haiti; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
JOSEPH, Wilson (a.k.a. „BEENIE“; a.k.a. „BIG CHIEF“; a.k.a. „LAMO SANJOU“; a.k.a. „LANMO SAN JOU“ (Latin: „LANMÒ SAN JOU“); a.k.a. „LANMOU100JOU“; a.k.a. „WILSON, Joseph“), Port-au-Prince, Haiti; DOB 28 Feb 1993; POB Lascahobas, Central Department, Haiti; nationality Haiti; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
KOIJEE, Jefferson (a.k.a. KOIJEE, Jefferson Tamba), 21 Street Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia; DOB 07 Sep 1985; POB Monrovia, Liberia; nationality Liberia; Gender Male; Passport DP0003662 (Liberia) issued 27 Jan 2023 expires 27 Jan 2025 (individual) [GLOMAG].
MAHMOOD, Fariduddin (a.k.a. MAHMOOD, Maulvi Fariduddin; a.k.a. MAHMOUD, Sheikh Farid-ud-Den; a.k.a. MAHMUD, Mawlawi Fariduddin), Afghanistan; DOB 1952; POB Sharana, Paktika Province, Afghanistan; nationality Afghanistan; Gender Male (individual) [GLOMAG].
NGOMA, Willy (a.k.a. „Pap“; a.k.a. „RUTIKANGA, Ngarurira Ingoma“), Bunagana, North Kivu, Congo, Democratic Republic of the; DOB 1974; POB Kinigi, Rwanda; nationality Rwanda; alt. nationality Congo, Democratic Republic of the; Gender Male (individual) [DRCONGO] (Linked To: M23).
NKALUBO, Mohamed Ali (a.k.a. NKALUBO, Meddie; a.k.a. „LEE, Meddie“), Congo, Democratic Republic of the; DOB 1987; alt. DOB 1988; POB Kampala, Uganda; nationality Uganda; citizen Uganda; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886 (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO).
RUKUNDA, Michel (a.k.a. „Makanika“), Hauts Plateaux, South Kivu, Congo, Democratic Republic of the; DOB 12 Sep 1974; POB Minembwe, Fizi Territory, South Kivu, Congo, Democratic Republic of the; nationality Congo, Democratic Republic of the; Gender Male; Military Registration Number 174935527545 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the) (individual) [DRCONGO].
SALLEH ADOUM KETTE, Mahamat (a.k.a. „SALEH, Mahamat“; a.k.a. „SALLE, Mahamat“; a.k.a. „SALLEH, Mahamat“; a.k.a. „SALLEH, Mama“; a.k.a. „SALLET, Mahamar“), Central African Republic; DOB 1988; POB Bria, Haute-Kotto Prefecture, Central African Republic; nationality Central African Republic; Gender Male (individual) [CAR].
WAJANG, Joseph Mantiel (a.k.a. WEJANG, Nguen Monytuil; a.k.a. WEJJANG, Joseph Monytuil; a.k.a. „WEJANG, Joseph Manytuil“), Bentiu, Unity, Sudan; DOB 1962; POB Sudan; nationality South Sudan; Gender Male; Passport 1561 (Sudan) expires 15 May 2006 (individual) [SOUTH SUDAN].
YAKUTUMBA, William Amuri, South Kivu, Congo, Democratic Republic of the; DOB 1970; alt. DOB 1972; POB Lubondja, Fizi Territory, South Kivu, Congo, Democratic Republic of the; nationality Congo, Democratic Republic of the; Gender Male; Military Registration Number 172985458137 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the) (individual) [DRCONGO].
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OFAC has also released an accompanying press statement in which it explains the reasons for the new designations.
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Concurrently, OFAC has issued a new FAQ clarifying whether or not the designation of a governing person within an entity in Afghanistan leads to the freezing of funds of the entire entity. The FAQ reads as follows – as quoted:
FAQ 1145: What if a governing institution in Afghanistan is led by an individual who has been blocked pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations?
Answer: Generally, the designation of an individual with a leadership role in a governing institution does not itself block the governing institution. Accordingly, engaging in a routine interaction with a governing institution in which a blocked individual is an official, but that does not directly or indirectly involve the blocked individual in question, is not prohibited. This applies to any designated individual in Afghanistan who has a leadership role in a governing institution in Afghanistan, including any individual blocked pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations (GMSR). For example, making a customs payment to a governing institution in Afghanistan led by a blocked individual would not be prohibited by the GMSR. However, engaging directly or indirectly with that blocked individual, such as receiving an invoice bearing the blocked individual’s signature for a commercial transaction, would be prohibited by the GMSR unless authorized by OFAC or exempt.
In addition, certain humanitarian-related transactions involving individuals blocked pursuant to the GMSR may be authorized by general licenses (GL) in the GMSR related to certain international organizations (IOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), official business of the United States government (USG), or agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices, replacement parts and components, or software updates for personal, non-commercial use (Ag-Med). For more information on these GLs, please consult OFAC ‘s Supplemental Guidance for the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and FAQs 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108.
For information on transactions involving governing institutions in Afghanistan led by an individual or entity designated under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations, or Executive Order 13224, please consult Afghanistan-related GL 20 and FAQ 993.
If individuals or entities, including IOs, NGOs, or financial institutions, have questions about engaging in or processing transactions related to these authorizations, they can contact the OFAC Compliance Hotline via email at OFAC_Feedback@treasury.gov.
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Finally, OFAC is reminding of the fact that its file transfer protocol (FTP) server will be retired around June 10, 2024. However, OFAC will keep the server running for an additional six months to give users time to adapt and make necessary adjustments to their systems and processes to transition to other available resources on the agency’s website which may be found here:
– Human-readable SDN List Files
– SDN List Data Files
– All non-SDN List Data Files (Consolidated List)
– All non-SDN human-readable list files
If users need technical support regarding this change, they can reach out to OFAC at O_F_A_C@treasury.gov.