The United Nations Security Council removed one former Sudanese military official from its sanctions list because he died, the UNSC said March 5. The council delisted Adam Shareif, who was sanctioned as the commander of the Sudanese Liberation Army.

The State Department designated former Ukrainian public official Ihor Kolomoyskyy for “significant” corruption,” the agency said March 5. Kolomoyskyy “undermined” the Ukrainian public’s “faith in their government’s democratic institutions” and used his government position for “personal benefit.” The State Department also designated Kolomoyskyy’s immediate family members, including his wife, Iryna Kolomoyska; his daughter, Angelika Kolomoyska; and his son, Israel Zvi Kolomoyskyy.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control on March 5 updated an Iran-related entry on its Specially Designated Nationals List. The agency updated the entry for Hasan Mortezavi, who was sanctioned in 2010 for involvement with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force. OFAC didn’t release more information, and the Treasury Department didn’t comment.

The U.S. extended national emergencies authorizing sanctions against Zimbabwe, Venezuela and “with respect to” Russia's activity in Ukraine, the White House said March 3. The White House said Zimbabwe's president “hasn’t made the necessary political and economic reforms” that would warrant rescinding U.S. sanctions. It also said the situations in Ukraine and Venezuela “continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to” U.S. national security.

The United Nations special envoy for Myanmar urged members to “take very strong measures” against Myanmar to counter the violence overtaking the country after last month’s military coup, a U.N. news release said March 3. Christine Schraner Burgener said she warned Myanmar’s military that “strong” sanctions will likely be imposed, but the military told her “we are used to sanctions and we survived the sanctions time in the past.” The U.S. and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on the country (see 2102110020 and 2102260013). The European Union is preparing sanctions (see 2102100012).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Mexican national Juan Manuel Abouzaid El Bayeh for helping to move drug shipments and launder money for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, a March 3 news release said. The agency labeled Abouzaid El Bayeh a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker. The designation was OFAC’s 12th action against the cartel, which was sanctioned in 2015.

The United Nations Security Council on Feb. 26 issued three new sanctions for terrorism activity in Somalia. The UNSC designated Abukar Ali Adan, deputy leader of the terrorist group al-Shabaab; Maalim Ayman, founder and leader of Jaysh Ayman, a unit of al-Shabaab; and Mahad Karate, who “played a key role” in Amniyat, the intelligence wing of al-Shabaab.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Mansur Al-Sa’adi and Ahmad ’Ali Ahsan al-Hamzi, who are responsible for organizing attacks by Houthi forces against Yemeni civilians, bordering nations and commercial ships, OFAC said March 2. OFAC said Al-Sa’adi is chief of staff for the Houthi Naval Forces and has helped smuggle Iranian weapons into Yemen. Al-Hamzi is the commander of Yemen’s Houthi-aligned Yemeni Air Force and Air Defense Forces and has also “acquired” Iranian weapons to use in Yemen.

The United Nations Security Council Feb. 25 threatened to impose sanctions on the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement if they don't stop recruiting fighters and begin peace talks with the Sudanese government. The UNSC said it will “consider listing those individuals or entities” that agreed to the peace deal, which includes various Sudanese rebel groups.

The United Nations Security Council renewed its sanctions regime targeting people and entities threatening peace in Yemen, it said in a Feb. 25 news release. The regime was extended for one year and will renew asset freezes and visa restrictions while allowing for exemptions for humanitarian aid. The UNSC also extended the mandate for its Panel of Experts on Yemen for 13 months.