The European Union added eight individuals and four entities to its sanctions on Myanmar related to the Feb. 1 military coup and “ensuing repression against peaceful demonstrators,” the bloc announced in a June 21 news release. The United Kingdom added three entities to its Myanmar sanctions regime, as announced in a financial sanctions notice. Both sanctions listings include a travel ban and assets freeze on the listed individual or entity.

The United Nations Security Council on June 17 added one entry to its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida Sanctions List. The entry is Mohammad Ali al Habbo, a Turkey-based “facilitator” who provides financial services to al-Qaida. The United Kingdom added the entry to its Sanctions List June 18 (see 2106180006).

Mohammad Ali al Habbo has been added to the United Kingdom's sanctions regime on ISIL and al-Qaida, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said in a June 18 financial sanctions notice. Al Habbo is a Syrian national based in Turkey who has been identified as providing financial services to ISIL.

The State Department designated Guatemalan Congressperson Boris Espana Caceres due to “significant corruption,” the agency said June 17. The State Department said Espana has been involved in bribery and has “jeopardized the stability of Guatemala’s democratic institutions.” The agency also designated his spouse, Liliana Maria Umana Lemus de Espana; his daughter, Karol Andrea Espana Umana; and his minor child.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control on June 16 revised two entries on its Non-Specially Designated National Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List. OFAC changed the entries for the Aviation Industry Corp. of China, which was identified as a Chinese military company in June 2020 (see 2006250024), and China National Offshore Oil Corp., which was identified in December 2020 (see 2011300038).

The State Department designated former Namibian government officials Bernhardt Esau and Sakeus Shanghala for involvement in corruption, the agency said June 15. The State Department said they “undermined” the Namibian public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and used their political influence for their own benefit. The agency also sanctioned Esau's wife, Swamma, and his son, Philippus.

Slack Technologies, an American software company that operates a business collaboration app, said it may have violated U.S. sanctions laws. The company “recently” submitted an initial voluntary self-disclosure to the Office of Foreign Assets Control after discovering customer accounts that may have used its products and services “for the benefit” of sanctioned people, Slack said in a June 3 Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

The U.S. lifted sanctions against three former Iranian government officials and two companies last week but said they were unrelated to U.S. efforts to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal. The delistings were the “result of a verified change in status or behavior on the part of the sanctioned parties,” the State Department said June 10. The agency said the people and companies previously helped buy, sell, transport or market Iranian petrochemical products, but sanctions are no longer warranted. “These actions demonstrate our commitment to lifting sanctions in the event of a change in status or behavior by sanctioned persons,” Secretary Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The Treasury Department is dedicating “significant” resources to sanctioning international fentanyl traffickers and is committed to maintaining strong sanctions against the Venezuela government for human rights violations, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told a House Appropriations subcommittee June 10.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated people and entities involved in a smuggling network that funds Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and the Houthis in Yemen, OFAC said June 10. The agency sanctioned seven people, four entities and one vessel, including Iran-based Houthi financier Sa’id al-Jamal. The network helps generate tens of millions of dollars from the sale of petroleum and other commodities, OFAC said.