The Council decided today to add Mohamed Ibrahim al-Shafi’i Al-Salem, also known as Aba Al-Sahraoui, and Katiba Macina to the EU autonomous list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda, subject to EU restrictive measures.
Aba Al-Sahraoui is the leader of ISIL-affiliated group ‘Islamic State Sahel Province’, which primarily operates in the tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. Katiba Macina is an affiliate of Al-Qaeda and its associated group Jama’a Nusrat Ul-Islam Wa Al-Muslimin (JNIM). It is active in the Sahel, in particular in Central Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
With today’s decision, the autonomous list of those associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda comprises a total of 15 persons and 6 groups. Those targeted are subject to an asset freeze, which includes a prohibition on EU persons and operators from making funds or economic resources available to the listed persons and groups. The persons listed are also subject to a travel ban.
Today’s decision reconfirms the EU’s resolve in countering the continued terrorist threat posed by Al-Qaeda, ISIL/Da’esh and their regional affiliates. The EU remains committed to taking decisive action against those who continue to threaten international peace and security by planning, financing and committing terrorist attacks, and by spreading their deadly terrorist propaganda around the world.
The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Background
As of September 2016, the EU can autonomously impose sanctions against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.
The EU autonomous restrictive measures are complementary to those imposed by the UN Security Council against ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda.
On 23 October 2023, the Council prolonged existing restrictive measures against ISIL(Da’esh), Al-Qaeda and natural and legal persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them for a further year, until 31 October 2024.
- Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/953 of 25 March 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them
- Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/954 of 25 March 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1686 imposing additional restrictive measures directed against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and natural and legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them
- Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 of 20 September 2016 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertaking and entities associated with them and repealing Common Position 2002/402/CFSP (Consolidated text 16 January 2024)
- ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaeda: EU restrictive measures prolonged for an additional year (press release, 23 October 2023)
- EU terrorist list (background information)