BRUSSELS/Imran Saqib Ch/LP Correspondent/ -The Council of the European Union has added Mohamed Ibrahim al-Shafi’i Al-Salem, also known as Aba Al-Sahraoui, and Katiba Macina to its autonomous list of sanctions targeting individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda. Aba Al-Sahraoui leads the ISIL-affiliated group ‘Islamic State Sahel Province,’ operating primarily in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, while Katiba Macina is linked to Al-Qaeda and its associated group Jama’a Nusrat Ul-Islam Wa Al-Muslimin (JNIM), active in the Sahel region, particularly in Central Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
This decision brings the total number of individuals and groups on the EU’s autonomous list associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda to 15 persons and 6 groups. Sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans aimed at preventing EU persons and entities from providing financial support to the listed individuals and groups.
The EU emphasizes its commitment to countering the ongoing terrorist threat posed by Al-Qaeda, ISIL/Da’esh, and their affiliates. These measures are part of broader efforts to safeguard international peace and security by preventing terrorist attacks and the dissemination of terrorist propaganda.
The legal acts related to this decision have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Background: Since September 2016, the EU has had the authority to autonomously impose sanctions against ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and associated individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities. These measures complement sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council against ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda.
On October 23, 2023, the Council extended existing restrictive measures against ISIL(Da’esh), Al-Qaeda, and associated individuals and entities for an additional year, until October 31, 2024.
