US Treasury Department places sanctions against leader of Central African Republic rebel group News
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US Treasury Department places sanctions against leader of Central African Republic rebel group

The US Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control made a special designation Friday against Ali Darassa, the leader of a rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR).

As the leader of the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), Darassa holds control over large areas of the country.  The UPC and predecessor groups have been responsible for a litany of human rights abuses since the ousting of President Bozizé in 2013.

Executive Order 13667 gives the US Treasury Department authority to designate individuals as a threat to the peace or security of the CAR.  Once designated, any individual or group acting on behalf of the US may seize the property of the designated individual.  The Order also prohibits exchanging any goods or services with a designated individual.

The US has imposed similar sanctions on numerous other entities committing abuses within the CAR.  These include former President Bozizé and LRA head Joseph Kony.  The designation against Darassa is motivated by a history of violent crimes which have affected thousands since 2013.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UN calls for UK, France and Israel to leave Egypt

On November 7, 1956, the United Nations General Assembly approved Resolution 1001, which called on the United Kingdom, France and Israel to pull all of their military forces out of Egypt. The Resolution came during the Suez Canal crisis, during which Israel invaded Egypt with the support of the U.K. and France, after Egyptian President Gamal Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. Read Resolution 1001.