02017R1770 — EN — 15.12.2021 — 004.001

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Amended by:





Corrected by:









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COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2017/1770

of 28 September 2017

concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Mali







Article 1

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(a) ‘claim’ means any claim, whether asserted by legal proceedings or not, made before or after the date of entry into force of this Regulation, under or in connection with a contract or transaction, and includes in particular: (i) a claim for performance of any obligation arising under or in connection with a contract or transaction; (ii) a claim for extension or payment of a bond, financial guarantee or indemnity of whatever form; (iii) a claim for compensation in respect of a contract or transaction; (iv) a counterclaim; (v) a claim for the recognition or enforcement, including by the procedure of exequatur, of a judgment, an arbitration award or an equivalent decision, wherever made or given;

(b) ‘contract or transaction’ means any transaction of whatever form and whatever the applicable law, whether comprising one or more contracts or similar obligations made between the same or different parties; for that purpose ‘contract’ includes a bond, guarantee or indemnity, particularly a financial guarantee or financial indemnity, and credit, whether legally independent or not, as well as any related provision arising under, or in connection with, the transaction;

(c) ‘competent authorities’ refers to the competent authorities of the Member States as identified on the websites listed in Annex II;

(d) ‘economic resources’ means assets of any kind, whether tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, which are not funds, but may be used to obtain funds, goods or services;

(e) ‘freezing of economic resources’ means preventing the use of economic resources to obtain funds, goods or services in any way, including, but not limited to, by selling, hiring or mortgaging them;

(f) ‘freezing of funds’ means preventing any move, transfer, alteration, use of, access to, or dealing with funds in any way that would result in any change in their volume, amount, location, ownership, possession, character, destination or any other change that would enable the funds to be used, including portfolio management;

(g) ‘funds’ means financial assets and benefits of any kind, including, but not limited to: (i) cash, cheques, claims on money, drafts, money orders and other payment instruments; (ii) deposits with financial institutions or other entities, balances on accounts, debts and debt obligations; (iii) publicly-traded and privately-traded securities and debt instruments, including stocks and shares, certificates representing securities, bonds, notes, warrants, debentures and derivatives contracts; (iv) interest, dividends or other income on or value accruing from or generated by assets; (v) credit, right of set-off, guarantees, performance bonds or other financial commitments; (vi) letters of credit, bills of lading, bills of sale; and (vii) documents showing evidence of an interest in funds or financial resources;

(h) ‘Sanctions Committee’ means the Committee of the Security Council established pursuant to paragraph 9 of United Nations Security Council Resolution UNSCR 2374 (2017);

(i) ‘territory of the Union’ means the territories of the Member States to which the Treaty is applicable, under the conditions laid down in the Treaty, including their airspace.

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Article 2

1. All funds and economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I or Annex Ia, shall be frozen.

2. No funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex I or Annex Ia.

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Article 2a

1. Annex I shall include natural and legal persons, entities and bodies identified by the Security Council or by the Sanctions Committee as: (a) engaging in hostilities in violation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali (the ‘Agreement’); (b) taking actions that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the Agreement; (c) acting for or on behalf of or at the direction of, or otherwise supporting or financing individuals and entities identified under points (a) or (b), including through the proceeds from organised crime, including the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and their precursors originating in or transiting through Mali, the trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, the smuggling and trafficking of arms, as well as the trafficking in cultural property; (d) involved in planning, directing, sponsoring, or conducting attacks against: (i) the various entities referenced in the Agreement, including local, regional and state institutions, joint patrols and the Malian Security and Defence forces; (ii) United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) peacekeepers and other UN and associated personnel, including members of the Panel of Experts; (iii) international security presences, including the Force Conjointe des Etats du G5 Sahel (FC-G5S), European Union Missions and French forces; (e) obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Mali, or access to, or distribution of, humanitarian assistance in Mali; (f) planning, directing, or committing acts in Mali that violate international human rights law or international humanitarian law, as applicable, or that constitute human rights abuses or violations, including those involving the targeting of civilians, including women or children, through the commission of acts of violence (including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual violence), abduction, enforced disappearance, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge; (g) using or recruiting children by armed groups or armed forces in violation of applicable international law, in the context of the armed conflict in Mali; or (h) knowingly facilitating the travel of a listed person in violation of the travel restrictions.

2. Annex I shall include the grounds for the listing of the persons, entities and bodies concerned.

3. Annex I shall also include, where available, information necessary to identify the natural or legal persons, entities and bodies concerned. With regard to natural persons, such information may include names including aliases, date and place of birth, nationality, passport and ID card numbers, gender, address, if known, and function or profession. With regard to legal persons, entities and bodies, such information may include names, place and date of registration, registration number and place of business.

Article 2b

1. Annex Ia shall include the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies designated by the Council on any of the following grounds: (a) being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged, directly or indirectly, in the actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Mali, such as those actions or policies referred to in Article 2a, paragraph 1; or (b) obstructing or undermining the successful completion of Mali’s political transition, including by obstructing or undermining the holding of elections or the handover of power to elected authorities; or (c) being associated with natural or legal persons, entities or bodies referred to in points (a) or (b).

2. Annex Ia shall include the grounds for listing the persons and entities referred to therein.

3. Annex Ia shall also contain, where available, the information necessary to identify the persons or entities concerned. With regard to natural persons, such information may include names, including aliases, date and place of birth, nationality, passport and identity card numbers, gender, address if known, and function or profession. With regard to entities, such information may include names, place and date of registration, registration number and place of business.

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Article 3

1. By way of derogation from Article 2, the competent authorities of the Member States may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, after having determined that the funds or economic resources concerned are: ▼M4 (a) necessary to satisfy the basic needs of natural persons listed in Annex I or Annex Ia, and dependent family members of such natural persons, including payments for foodstuffs, rent or mortgage, medicines and medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums, and public utility charges; ▼B (b) intended exclusively for payment of reasonable professional fees or reimbursement of incurred expenses associated with the provision of legal services; ▼M4 (c) intended exclusively for payment of fees or service charges for routine holding or maintenance of frozen funds or economic resources; and where the authorisation concerns a person, entity or body listed in Annex I and provided that the competent authority of the Member State concerned has notified the Sanctions Committee of that determination and its intention to grant an authorisation, and in the absence of a negative decision by the Sanctions Committee within 5 working days of such notification.

2. By way of derogation from Article 2, the competent authorities of the Member States may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, after having determined that the funds or economic resources concerned are necessary for extraordinary expenses, provided that: (a) where the authorisation concerns a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I such determination has been notified to the Sanctions Committee by the competent authority of the Member State concerned and that the determination has been approved by that Committee; and (b) where the authorisation concerns a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex Ia, the Member State concerned has notified other Member States and the Commission of the grounds on which it considers that a specific authorisation should be granted, at least 2 weeks prior to granting the authorisation.

3. By way of derogation from Article 2, with regard to a natural or legal person, entity and body listed in Annex I, the competent authorities of the Member States may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, provided that the Sanctions Committee determined on a case-by-case basis that such a derogation would further the objectives of peace and national reconciliation in Mali and stability in the region.

4. The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under this Article within 2 weeks of the authorisation.

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Article 3a

1. By way of derogation from Article 2, and with regard to a person, entity or body listed in Annex Ia, the competent authorities may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, after having determined that the provision of such funds or economic resources is necessary for humanitarian purposes, such as delivering or facilitating the delivery of assistance, including medical supplies, food, or the transfer of humanitarian workers and related assistance or for evacuations from Mali.

2. The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraph 1 within 2 weeks of the authorisation.

Article 3b

1. By way of derogation from Article 2, and with regard to a person, entity or body listed in Annex Ia, the competent authorities of the Member States may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, after having determined that the funds or economic resources concerned are to be paid into or from an account of a diplomatic or consular mission or an international organisation enjoying immunities in accordance with international law, insofar as such payments are intended to be used for official purposes of the diplomatic or consular mission or international organisation.

2. The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraph 1 within 2 weeks of the authorisation.

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Article 4

1. By way of derogation from Article 2, the competent authorities in the Member States may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources for natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex I or Annex Ia, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources for natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex I or Annex Ia, if the following conditions are met: (a) the funds or economic resources are the subject of: (i) for a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I, a judicial, administrative or arbitral decision established prior to the date on which the natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in Article 2a was included in Annex I, or of a judicial, administrative or arbitral lien rendered prior to that date; (ii) for a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex Ia, an arbitral decision rendered prior to the date on which the natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in Article 2b was included in Annex Ia, or of a judicial or administrative decision rendered in the Union, or a judicial decision enforceable in the Member State concerned, prior to or after that date; (b) the funds or economic resources will be used exclusively to satisfy claims secured by a decision referred to in point (a) or recognised as valid in such a decision, within the limits set by applicable laws and regulations governing the rights of persons having such claims; (c) the decision or lien is not for the benefit of a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I or Annex Ia; (d) recognising the decision or lien is not contrary to public policy in the Member State concerned; and (e) for a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I, the Sanctions Committee has been notified by the Member State of the decision or lien.

2. The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraph 1 within 2 weeks of the authorisation.

Article 5

1. By way of derogation from Article 2(1) and provided that a payment by a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I or Annex Ia is due under a contract or agreement that was concluded by, or an obligation that arose for, the natural or legal person, entity or body concerned, before the date on which that natural or legal person, entity or body was included in Annex I or Annex Ia, the competent authorities of the Member States may authorise, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, provided that the competent authority concerned has determined that: (a) the funds or economic resources shall be used for a payment by a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I or Annex Ia; and, (b) the payment is not in breach of Article 2(2).

2. For a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I, the intention to grant an authorisation shall be notified by the relevant Member State to the Sanctions Committee 10 working days in advance.

3. The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraph 1 within 2 weeks of the authorisation.

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Article 6

1. Article 2(2) shall not prevent the crediting of the frozen accounts by financial or credit institutions that receive funds transferred by third parties onto the account of a listed natural or legal person, entity or body, provided that any additions to such accounts will also be frozen. The financial or credit institution shall inform the relevant competent authority of any such transaction without delay.

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2. Article 2(2) shall not apply to the addition to frozen accounts of: (a) interest or other earnings on those accounts; (b) payments due under contracts, agreements or obligations that were concluded or arose before the date on which the natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in Article 2 has been included in Annex I or Annex Ia; or (c) payments due to a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex Ia under judicial, administrative or arbitral decisions rendered in the EU or enforceable in the Member State concerned,

provided that any such interest, other earnings and payments are frozen in accordance with Article 2.

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Article 7

1. Without prejudice to the applicable rules concerning reporting, confidentiality and professional secrecy, natural and legal persons, entities and bodies shall: (a) supply immediately any information which would facilitate compliance with this Regulation, such as information on accounts and amounts frozen in accordance with Article 2, to the competent authority of the Member State where they are resident or located, and shall transmit such information, directly or through the Member State, to the Commission; and (b) cooperate with the competent authority in any verification of this information.

2. Any additional information received directly by the Commission shall be made available to the Member States.

3. Any information provided or received in accordance with this Article shall be used only for the purposes for which it was provided or received.

Article 8

It shall be prohibited to participate, knowingly and intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is to circumvent the measures referred to in Article 2.

Article 9

1. The freezing of funds and economic resources or the refusal to make funds or economic resources available, carried out in good faith on the basis that such action is in accordance with this Regulation, shall not give rise to liability of any kind on the part of the natural or legal person or entity or body implementing it, or its directors or employees, unless it is proved that the funds and economic resources were frozen or withheld as a result of negligence.

2. Actions by natural or legal persons, entities or bodies shall not give rise to any liability of any kind on their part if they did not know, and had no reasonable cause to suspect, that their actions would infringe the measures set out in this Regulation.

Article 10

1. No claims in connection with any contract or transaction the performance of which has been affected, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the measures imposed under this Regulation, including claims for indemnity or any other claim of this type, such as a claim for compensation or a claim under a guarantee, notably a claim for extension or payment of a bond, guarantee or indemnity, in particular a financial guarantee or financial indemnity, of whatever form, shall be satisfied, if they are made by: ▼M4 (a) designated natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex I or Annex Ia; ▼B (b) any natural or legal person, entity or body acting through or on behalf of one of the persons, entities or bodies referred to in point (a).

2. In any proceedings for the enforcement of a claim, the onus of proving that satisfying the claim is not prohibited by paragraph 1 shall be on the natural or legal person, entity or body seeking the enforcement of that claim.

3. This Article is without prejudice to the right of the natural or legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in paragraph 1 to judicial review of the legality of the non-performance of contractual obligations in accordance with this Regulation.

Article 11

1. The Commission and Member States shall inform each other of the measures taken under this Regulation and share any other relevant information at their disposal in connection with this Regulation in particular information: (a) in respect of funds frozen under Article 2 and authorisations granted under Articles 3, 4 and 5; (b) in respect of violation and enforcement problems and judgments handed down by national courts.

2. The Member States shall immediately inform each other and the Commission of any other relevant information at their disposal which might affect the effective implementation of this Regulation.

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Article 12

1. Where the Security Council or the Sanctions Committee lists a natural or legal person, entity or body, the Council shall include such natural or legal person, entity or body in Annex I.

2. The Council shall establish and amend the list of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies in Annex Ia.

3. The Council shall communicate its decision to the natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, including the grounds for listing, either directly, if the address is known, or through the publication of a notice, providing that natural or legal person, entity or body with an opportunity to present observations.

4. Where observations are submitted, or where substantial new evidence is presented, the Council shall review its decision and inform the natural or legal person, entity or body accordingly.

5. Where the United Nations decides to delist a natural or legal person, entity or body, or to amend the identifying data of a listed natural or legal person, entity or body, the Council shall amend Annex I accordingly.

6. The list in Annex Ia shall be reviewed at regular intervals and at least every 12 months.

7. The Commission shall be empowered to amend Annex II on the basis of information supplied by Member States.

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Article 13

1. Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

2. Member States shall notify these rules to the Commission without delay after the entry into force of this Regulation and shall notify it of any subsequent amendment.

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Article 13a

1. The Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) shall process personal data in order to carry out their tasks under this Regulation. These tasks include: (a) as regards the Council, preparing and making amendments to Annex I and Ia; (b) as regards the High Representative, preparing amendments to Annex I and Ia; (c) as regards the Commission: (i) adding the contents of Annex I and Ia to the electronic, consolidated list of persons, groups and entities subject to Union financial sanctions and to the interactive sanctions map, both publicly available; (ii) processing information on the impact of the measures provided for in this Regulation such as the value of frozen funds and information on authorisations granted by the competent authorities.

2. The Council, the Commission and the High Representative may process, where applicable, relevant data relating to criminal offences committed by listed natural persons, to criminal convictions of such persons or to security measures concerning such persons, only to the extent that such processing is necessary for the preparation of Annex I and Ia.

3. For the purposes of this Regulation, the Council, the Commission service listed in Annex II to this Regulation and the High Representative are designated as ‘controller’ within the meaning of point (8) of Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament amd of the Council ( 1 ), in order to ensure that the natural persons concerned can exercise their rights under that Regulation.

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Article 14

1. Member States shall designate the competent authorities referred to in this Regulation and identify them on the websites listed in Annex II. Member States shall notify the Commission of any changes in the addresses of their websites listed in Annex II.

2. Member States shall notify the Commission of their competent authorities, including the contact details of those competent authorities, without delay after the entry into force of this Regulation, and shall notify it of any subsequent amendment.

3. Where this Regulation sets out a requirement to notify, inform or otherwise communicate with the Commission, the address and other contact details to be used for such communication shall be those indicated in Annex II.

Article 15

This Regulation shall apply:

(a) within the territory of the Union, including its airspace;

(b) on board of any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State;

(c) to any person inside or outside the territory of the Union who is a national of a Member State;

(d) to any legal person, entity or body, inside or outside the territory of the Union, which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State;

(e) to any legal person, entity or body in respect of any business done in whole or in part within the Union.

Article 16

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.









ANNEX I

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List of natural or legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Article 2a

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1. AHMED AG ALBACHAR (alias: Intahmadou Ag Albachar)

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Designation: President of the Humanitarian Commission of the Bureau Regional d’Administration et Gestion de Kidal

Date of birth: 31 Dec. 1963

Place of birth: Tin-Essako, Kidal region, Mali

Nationality: Mali

National identification no: 1 63 08 4 01 001 005E

Address: Quartier Aliou, Kidal, Mali

Date of UN designation: 10 July 2019 (amended on 19 Dec. 2019)

Other information: Ahmed Ag Albachar is a prominent businessman and, since early 2018, a special advisor to the Governor of Kidal region. An influential member of the Haut Conseil pour l’unité de l’Azawad (HCUA), belonging to the Ifoghas Tuareg community, Ahmed Ag Albachar also mediates relations between the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA) and Ansar Dine (QDe.135). Listed pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of Security Council resolution 2374 (2017) (Travel Ban, Asset Freeze).

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Additional information

Ahmed Ag Albachar is being listed pursuant to paragraph 8 (b) of resolution 2374 (2017) for actions taken that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the Agreement; and paragraph 8 (e) of resolution 2374 (2017) for obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Mali, or access to, or distribution of, humanitarian assistance in Mali.

In January Ag Albachar uses his influence to control and choose which humanitarian and development projects take place in the Kidal region, who implements them, where and when. No humanitarian action can be undertaken without his knowledge and approval. As self-proclaimed president of the humanitarian commission, Ag Albachar is in charge of granting residence and work permits of aid workers in exchange for money or services. The commission also controls which companies and individuals can participate in bids for projects that NGOs advertise in Kidal, granting Ag Albachar the power to manipulate humanitarian action in the region and choose those who work for NGOs. Aid distributions can only be conducted under his oversight, thereby influencing who benefits from the distributions.

Additionally, Albachar uses unemployed youths to intimidate and extort NGOs, severely hindering their work. The humanitarian community at large works in fear in Kidal, but especially national staff who are more vulnerable.

Ahmed Ag Albachar is also the co-owner of Timitrine Voyage transport company; one of the few transport companies that NGOs are authorised to use in Kidal. Ag Albachar, together with a dozen of other transport companies owned by a small clique of influential Ifoghas Tuareg notables, usurps a significant share of humanitarian aid in Kidal. Moreover, the monopoly position maintained by Ag Albachar, renders aid delivery in certain communities more difficult than others.

Albachar is manipulating humanitarian aid to fulfil his personal interests and the political interests of the HCUA by exercising terror, threatening NGOs and controlling their operations, all of which results in obstruction and hindrance of aid affecting beneficiaries in need in the region of Kidal. Therefore, Ahmed Ag Albachar obstructs the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Mali, or access to, or distribution of, humanitarian assistance in Mali.

His actions also violate article 49 of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali that commits parties to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence which guide humanitarian action, to prevent any use of humanitarian aid for political, economic or military ends, and to facilitate access for humanitarian agencies and guarantee the security of their personnel. Therefore, Albachar obstructs or threatens the implementation of the Agreement.

2. HOUKA HOUKA AG ALHOUSSEINI (alias: a) Mohamed Ibn Alhousseyni b) Muhammad Ibn Al-Husayn c) Houka Houka)

Title: Cadi

Date of birth: a) 1 Jan. 1962 b) 1 Jan. 1963 c) 1 Jan. 1964

Place of birth: Ariaw, Tombouctou region, Mali

Nationality: Mali

Date of UN designation: 10 July 2019 (amended on 19 Dec. 2019)

Other information: Houka Houka Ag Alhousseini was appointed by Iyad Ag Ghaly (QDi.316) as the Cadi of Timbuktu in April 2012 after the establishment of the jihadist caliphate in northern Mali.

Houka Houka used to work closely with the Hesbah, the Islamic police headed by Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, jailed at the Detention Centre of the International Criminal Court in The Hague since September 2016. Listed pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of Security Council resolution 2374 (2017) (Travel Ban, Asset Freeze).

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Additional information

Houka Houka Ag Alhousseini is being listed pursuant to paragraph 8 (b) of resolution 2374 (2017) for actions taken that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the Agreement.

After the French forces intervention in January 2013, Houka Houka Ag Alhousseini was arrested on 17 January 2014 but subsequently released by Malian authorities on 15 August 2014, a liberation denounced by human rights organisations.

Houka Houka Ag Alhousseini has been since based in Ariaw, in the area of Zouéra, a village located west of Timbuktu (Essakane commune), on the bank of the lake Faguibine going towards the Mauritanian border. On 27 September 2017, he was officially reinstated here as a teacher by the Governor of Timbuktu, Koina Ag Ahmadou, this after lobbying by sanctioned individual Mohamed Ousmane Ag Mohamidoune (MLi.003), leader of the Coalition du peuple de l’Azawad (CPA), listed on 20 December 2018 by the Security Council Committee on Mali for reasons including actions taken that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the Agreement. Mohamed Ousmane founded in 2017 and presided a broader alliance of splinter groups, the Coalition des Mouvements de l’Entente (CME). During its founding convention, the CME openly threatened in an official statement the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. The CME has been also involved in obstructions delaying the implementation of the Agreement, by pressuring the Malian government and the international community with the aim to impose the CME in the different mechanisms established by the Agreement.

Houka Houka and Mohamed Ousmane have been instrumental to each others’ rise, the latter facilitating meetings with government officials, and the first playing a key role in the expansion of Ousmane’s influence over the region of Timbuktu. Houka Houka has participated in most of the community gatherings organized by Mohamed Ousmane since 2017, contributing to Ousmane’s notoriety and credibility in the region, as well as to the founding ceremony of the Coalition des Mouvements de l’Entente (CME) to which he gave his public blessing.

The area of influence of Houka Houka has recently expanded further east, to the Ber region (stronghold of the Bérabich Arabs located 50 kilometres east of Timbuktu), and northern Timbuktu. Even though he is not from a lineage of Cadis and that he started only in 2012, Houka Houka was able to extend his authority as a Cadi and his capacity to maintain public security in certain areas by using Al-Furqan assets and the fear that this terrorist organisation instigates in the Timbuktu region through complex attacks against international and Malian defence and security forces and targeted assassinations.

Therefore, through his support for Mohamed Ousmane and his obstruction of the Agreement, Houka Houka Ag Alhousseini threatens its implementation, as well as the peace, security, and stability in Mali at large.

3. MAHRI SIDI AMAR BEN DAHA (alias: a) Yoro Ould Daha b) Yoro Ould Daya c) Sidi Amar Ould Daha d) Yoro)

Designation: Deputy chief of staff of the regional coordination of the Mécanisme opérationnel de coordination (MOC) in Gao

Date of birth: 1 Jan. 1978

Place of birth: Djebock, Mali

Nationality: Mali

National identification no: 11262/1547

Address: Golf Rue 708 Door 345, Gao, Mali

Date of UN designation: 10 July 2019 (amended on 19 Dec. 2019)

Other information: Mahri Sidi Amar Ben Daha is a leader of the Lehmar

Arab community of Gao and military chief of staff of the pro-governmental wing of the Mouvement Arabe de l’Azawad (MAA), associated to the Plateforme des mouvements du 14 juin 2014 d’Alger (Plateforme) coalition. Listed pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of Security Council resolution 2374 (2017) (Travel Ban, Asset Freeze).

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Additional information

Mahri Sidi Amar Ben Daha is being listed pursuant to paragraph 8 (b) of resolution 2374 (2017) for actions taken that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the Agreement.

Ben Daha was a high-ranking officer of the Islamic police operating in Gao when the Mouvement pour l’unicité et le jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO) (QDe.134) controlled the town from June 2012 to January 2013. Ben Daha currently is deputy chief of staff of the regional coordination of the Mécanisme opérationnel de coordination (MOC) in Gao.

On 12 November 2018, the Plateforme in Bamako declared not to participate in forthcoming regional consultations, scheduled to be held from 13 to 17 November in accordance with the March 2018 roadmap agreed upon by all parties to the Peace and reconciliation Agreement in March 2018. The next day, in Gao, a coordination meeting was held by the military chief of staff of the Ganda Koy component of Coordination des mouvements et fronts patriotiques de résistance (CMFPR)-Plateforme, with representatives the MAA-Plateforme, to prevent the consultations to take place. The blockade was coordinated with Plateforme leadership in Bamako, the MAA-Plateforme, as well as Member of Parliament Mohamed Ould Mataly.

From 14 to 18 November 2018, dozens of MAA-Plateforme combatants together with those of the CMFPR factions obstructed the holding of regional consultations. Operating under the instruction and with the participation of Ben Daha, at least six pick-up truck vehicles from the Mouvement Arabe de l’Azawad (MAA-Plateforme) were positioned in front of the Gao governorate and its vicinity. Two MOC vehicles attributed to MAA-Plateforme were also observed at the scene.

On 17 November 2018, an incident took place between armed elements blocking access to the governorate and a FAMa patrol passing by the area, but was diffused before it could escalate and constitute a cease-fire violation. On 18 November 2018, a total of twelve vehicles and armed elements lifted the blockade of the governorate following a latest round of negotiations with the governor of Gao.

On 30 November 2018, Ben Daha organized an inter-Arab meeting in Tinfanda to discuss security and administrative restructuring. The meeting also included sanctioned individual Ahmoudou Ag Asriw (MLi.001) whom Ben Daha supports and defends.

Therefore, through effectively blocking discussions on key provisions of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement related to the reform of the territorial structure of northern Mali, Ben Daha has obstructed the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. In addition, Ben Daha supports an individual identified as threatening the implementation of the Agreement through his involvement in ceasefire violations and organized criminal activity.

4. MOHAMED BEN AHMED MAHRI (alias: a) Mohammed Rougi b) Mohamed Ould Ahmed Deya c) Mohamed Ould Mahri Ahmed Daya d) Mohamed Rougie e) Mohamed Rouggy f) Mohamed Rouji)

Date of birth: 1 Jan. 1979

Place of birth: Tabankort, Mali

Nationality: Mali

Passport no: a) AA00272627 b) AA0263957

Address: Bamako, Mali

Date of UN designation: 10 July 2019 (amended on 19 Dec. 2019)

Other information: Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri is a businessman from the Arab Lehmar community in Gao region who previously collaborated with the Mouvement pour l’unicité et le Jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO) (QDe.134). Listed pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of Security Council resolution 2374 (2017) (Travel Ban, Asset Freeze).

Photo available for inclusion in the INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link:

https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals click here

Additional information

Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri is being listed pursuant to paragraph 8 (c) of resolution 2374 (2017) for acting for or on behalf of or at the direction of or otherwise supporting or financing individuals and entities identified in paragraphs 8 (a) and (b) of resolution 2374 (2017), including through the proceeds from organized crime, including the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and their precursors originating in or transiting through Mali, the trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, the smuggling and trafficking of arms as well as the trafficking in cultural property.

Between December 2017 and April 2018, Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri commanded a trafficking operation of over 10 tons of Moroccan cannabis, moved in cooling trucks through Mauretania, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. In the night of 13 to 14 June 2018 a quarter of the shipment was confiscated in Niamey, while a rival group had allegedly stolen the remaining three quarters during the night of 12 and 13 April 2018.

In December 2017, Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri was in Niamey with a Malian national to prepare the operation. The latter was arrested in Niamey after he had flown in from Morocco with two Moroccan and two Algerian Nationals on 15 and 16 April 2018 to try and recuperate stolen cannabis. Three of his associates were also arrested, including a Moroccan national, who had been sentenced in Morocco in 2014 to five months imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri commands trafficking of cannabis resin to Niger straight through northern Mali, making use of convoys led by members of the Groupe d’autodéfense des Touaregs Imghad et leurs allies (GATIA), including sanctioned individual Ahmoudou Ag Asriw (MLi.001). Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri compensates Asriw for the use of these convoys. These convoys frequently generate clashes with competitors associated with the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA).

Using his financial gains made in narcotics trafficking, Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri lends his support to terrorist armed groups, notably the sanctioned entity Al-Mourabitoun (QDe.141), attempting to bribe officials to release arrested combatants and facilitating fighters to integrate in the Mouvement Arabe pour l’Azawad (MAA) Plateforme.

Therefore, through the proceeds from organized crime, Mohamed Ben Ahmed Mahri supports an individual identified under paragraph 8(b) of resolution 2374 (2007) as threatening the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, in addition to a terrorist group designated under resolution 1267.

5. MOHAMED OULD MATALY

Designation: Member of Parliament

Date of birth: 1958

Nationality: Mali

Passport no: D9011156

Address: Golf Rue 708 Door 345, Gao, Mali

Date of UN designation: 10 Jul. 2019 (amended on 19 Dec. 2019)

Other information: Mohamed Ould Mataly is the former Mayor of Bourem and current Member of Parliament for Bourem’s constituency, part of the Rassamblement pour le Mali (RPM, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s political party). He is from the Lehmar Arab community and an influential member of the pro-governmental wing of the Mouvement Arabe de l’Azawad (MAA), associated to the Plateforme des mouvements du 14 juin 2014 d’Alger (Plateforme) coalition. Listed pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of Security Council resolution 2374 (2017) (Travel Ban, Asset Freeze).

Photo available for inclusion in the INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link:

https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals click here

Additional information

Mohamed Ould Mataly is being listed pursuant to paragraph 8 (b) of resolution 2374 (2017) for actions taken that obstruct, or that obstruct by prolonged delay, or that threaten the implementation of the Agreement.

On 12 November 2018, the Plateforme in Bamako declared not to participate in forthcoming regional consultations, scheduled to be held from 13 to 17 November in accordance with the March 2018 roadmap agreed upon by all parties to the Peace and reconciliation Agreement in March 2018. The next day, in Gao, a coordination meeting was held by the military chief of staff of the Ganda Koy component of Coordination des mouvements et fronts patriotiques de résistance (CMFPR)-Plateforme, with representatives the MAA-Plateforme, to prevent the consultations to take place. The blockade was coordinated with Plateforme leadership in Bamako, the MAA-Plateforme, as well as member of parliament Mohamed Ould Mataly.

His close associate Mahri Sidi Amar Ben Daha, alias Yoro Ould Daha, who resides in his property in Gao, participated in the blockade of the venue of the consultation at the Governor’s office during this period.

Furthermore, on 12 July 2016 Ould Mataly was also one of the instigators of demonstrations hostile to the implementation of the Agreement.

Therefore, through effectively blocking discussions on key provisions of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement related to the reform of the territorial structure of northern Mali, Ould Mataly has obstructed and caused delays to the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.

Lastly, Ould Mataly has pleaded for the release of members of his community captured in counter-terrorist operations. Through his involvement in organised crime and association with terrorist armed groups, Mohamed Ould Mataly threatens the implementation of the Agreement.

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ANNEX Ia

List of natural or legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Article 2b

▼B









ANNEX II

Websites for information on the competent authorities and address for notifications to the Commission

▼M1

BELGIUM

https://diplomatie.belgium.be/nl/Beleid/beleidsthemas/vrede_en_veiligheid/sancties

https://diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/politique/themes_politiques/paix_et_securite/sanctions

https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/policy/policy_areas/peace_and_security/sanctions

BULGARIA

https://www.mfa.bg/en/101

CZECH REPUBLIC

www.financnianalytickyurad.cz/mezinarodni-sankce.html

DENMARK

http://um.dk/da/Udenrigspolitik/folkeretten/sanktioner/

GERMANY

http://www.bmwi.de/DE/Themen/Aussenwirtschaft/aussenwirtschaftsrecht,did=404888.html

ESTONIA

http://www.vm.ee/est/kat_622/

IRELAND

http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=28519

GREECE

http://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy/global-issues/international-sanctions.html

SPAIN

http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/PoliticaExteriorCooperacion/GlobalizacionOportunidadesRiesgos/Paginas/SancionesInternacionales.aspx

FRANCE

http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/autorites-sanctions/

CROATIA

http://www.mvep.hr/sankcije

ITALY

https://www.esteri.it/mae/it/politica_estera/politica_europea/misure_deroghe

CYPRUS

http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2016.nsf/mfa35_en/mfa35_en?OpenDocument

LATVIA

http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/security/4539

LITHUANIA

http://www.urm.lt/sanctions

LUXEMBOURG

https://maee.gouvernement.lu/fr/directions-du-ministere/affaires-europeennes/mesures-restrictives.html

HUNGARY

http://www.kormany.hu/download/9/2a/f0000/EU%20szankci%C3%B3s%20t%C3%A1j%C3%A9koztat%C3%B3_20170214_final.pdf

MALTA

https://foreignaffairs.gov.mt/en/Government/SMB/Pages/Sanctions-Monitoring-Board.aspx

NETHERLANDS

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/internationale-sancties

AUSTRIA

http://www.bmeia.gv.at/view.php3?f_id=12750&LNG=en&version=

POLAND

https://www.gov.pl/web/dyplomacja

PORTUGAL

http://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/ministerios/mne/quero-saber-mais/sobre-o-ministerio/medidas-restritivas/medidas-restritivas.aspx

ROMANIA

http://www.mae.ro/node/1548

SLOVENIA

http://www.mzz.gov.si/si/omejevalni_ukrepi

SLOVAKIA

https://www.mzv.sk/europske_zalezitosti/europske_politiky-sankcie_eu

FINLAND

http://formin.finland.fi/kvyhteistyo/pakotteet

SWEDEN

http://www.ud.se/sanktioner

UNITED KINGDOM

https://www.gov.uk/sanctions-embargoes-and-restrictions

Address for notifications to the European Commission:

European Commission

Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI)

EEAS 07/99

B-1049 Brussels, Belgium

E-mail: relex-sanctions@ec.europa.eu