APA-Maputo (Mozambique) The European Union (EU) has added an Islamic State-affiliated group and two of its leaders to the list of organisations and individuals banned from doing business or setting foot in the 27-member bloc.
Following its meeting in the Belgian capital Brussels on Monday, the EU Council announced that it was adding Abu Yasir Hassan and Bonomade Machude Omar as well as their ISIS-Mozambique terrorist organisation “to the list of those subject to restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.”
“The sanctioned group and individuals are responsible for terrorist attacks and serious human rights abuses,” the council said in a statement.
It said activities of the sanctioned individuals and their organisation posed a serious threat to the EU and to regional and international stability.
With the new listings, a total of 15 persons are now subject to an EU travel ban and an asset freeze, while five groups have been slapped with an asset freeze so far.
“In addition, EU persons and operators are forbidden from making funds or economic resources available to the listed persons and groups.”
ISIS-affiliated insurgents have wreaked havoc in Mozambique’s northern-most and mineral-rich Cabo Delgado province since October 2017, killing more than 4,000 people over the past five years and displacing over a million others.
JN/APA