​Introduction 

1. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the “UK Regulations") were made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and provide for the imposition of financial sanctions, namely the freezing of funds and economic resources of persons involved in the commission of a serious human rights violation or abuse, or violation of international humanitarian law, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; obstructing or undermining respect for democracy, the rule of law and good governance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; or the production, manufacture or use in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of improvised explosive devices, or in the commission, planning, ordering, aiding, abetting or otherwise assistance of attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with improvised explosive devices.

2. On 23 February 2024 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated the UK Sanctions List to reflect changes to those persons designated under the UK Regulations. A link to the UK Sanctions List can be found below.

3. The Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021 (the “Order"), made under the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019 (“SAFL"), links to the UK Regulations.

4. Any changes to asset-freeze designations made under the UK Regulations are effective immediately by virtue of the ambulatory provisions in Jersey's sanctions legislation.

Notice summary

5. Find full details in the Annex to this notice.

6. The following designation has been corrected and remains subject to an asset freeze:

• Willy NGOMA (UK Consolidated Group ID: 16382)

What you must do  

7. You must:  

• immediately check whether you maintain any accounts or hold any funds or economic resources for the persons set out in the Annex to this Notice.

• freeze such accounts, and other funds or economic resources without prior notice and without delay.

• refrain from dealing with the funds or assets or making them available (directly or indirectly) to such persons unless licensed by the Minister for External Relations (“MER").

• report any findings to MER, together with any additional information that would facilitate compliance with SAFL.

• provide any information concerning the frozen assets of designated persons that MER may request. Information reported to MER may be passed on to other regulatory authorities or law enforcement.

8. Where a relevant institution has already reported details of accounts, other funds or economic resources held frozen for designated persons, they are not required to report these details again.

9. Failure to comply with sanctions legislation or to seek to circumvent its provisions is a criminal offence.

Further Information

10. Find guidance on unfreezing assets for delisted persons or entities.

11. Find more information on sanctions or sanctions on Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).

12. Jersey guidance the Democratic Republic of the Congo sanctions regime is available on sanctions by country and category on JFSC.

13. A copy of the UK Regulations can be obtained from legislation.gov.uk. Other relevant information about this regime can be found on financial sanctions targets by regime on GOV.UK.

14. The UK Sanctions List on GOV.UK

15. The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation Consolidated List on GOV.UK

Enquiries 

16. Non-media enquiries, sanctions compliance reporting, and licence applications should be emailed to the Financial Sanctions Implementation Unit at sanctions@gov.je.

Annex

17. Annex to Financial Sanctions Notice Democratic Republic of the Congo 23 February 2024

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