UN Security Council extends Yemen sanctions

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution unanimously on Thursday to renew sanction measures against Yemen until 26 February next year. The council determined that “the situation in Yemen continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security.”

The resolution renewed an assets freeze and travel ban for individuals and organisations deemed to be undermining the peaceful transition process in Yemen, which were imposed originally in 2014 by resolution 2140.

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“By those provisions, the Council decided that all Member States would freeze all funds, other financial assets and economic resources and economic resources on their territories that were owned or controlled by the individuals and entities designated by the Committee,” said the official UN statement. “It also decided that Member States would take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into, or transit through, their territory by those individuals.”

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The council expressed concern at the ongoing political, security, economic and humanitarian challenges in Yemen, and threats arising from the illicit transfer, destabilising accumulation and misuse of weapons. It noted, “The critical importance of effective implementation of the sanctions regime imposed pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014) and resolution 2216 (2015), including the key role that Member States from the region can play in this regard.”

In its statement, the Security Council also reaffirmed its “strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen.”