UK – Sudan and South Sudan sanctions extended to certain overseas territories

Council Decision 2014/450/CFSP repeals Council Decision 2011/423/CFSP which previously extended some restrictive measures in place against Sudan to South Sudan, which became a separate State on 9th July 2011. For the sake of clarity, the restrictive measures implemented by the European Union concerning Sudan have now been separated from measures concerning South Sudan. This Order revokes and replaces the Sudan and South Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2012, Sudan (United Nations Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2005 and Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2004.

The sanctions imposed include an arms embargo and a prohibition on the provision of related assistance to Sudan and an asset freeze and travel ban against persons designated by the United Nations Security Council as those who impede the peace process, constitute a threat to stability in Darfur and the region, commit violations of international humanitarian law or human rights law or other atrocities, or violate the arms embargo. 

On the same date, the official Legislation.gov.uk website posted SI 2014/2703 – The South Sudan (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2014, gives effect in specified Overseas Territories to sanctions against South Sudan adopted by the European Union in Council Decision 2014/449/CFSP adopted on 10th July 2014.

For the sake of clarity, measures implemented by the European Union concerning South Sudan have been separated from measures concerning Sudan. The sanctions imposed include an arms embargo and a prohibition on the provision of related assistance to South Sudan and an asset freeze and travel ban against persons designated by the Council of the European Union as obstructing the political process in South Sudan, including by acts of violence or violations of ceasefire agreements, as well as persons responsible for serious violations of human rights in South Sudan and persons associated with them.

Both Orders make provision for the Governor to license certain activities in line with exemptions under the sanctions regime.