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Mauritius Compliance with International Sanctions: Government Adopts United Nations Sanctions Act

In a move to strengthen its commitment to international cooperation, the Government of Mauritius has implemented the United Nations (Financial Prohibitions, Arms Embargo and Travel Ban) Sanctions Act 2019. This legislation enables the country to enforce targeted sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

Implementation of United Nations Sanctions Measures

The National Sanctions Secretariat, established under section 7 of the Act, has issued a Notice and Explanatory Note on the implementation of United Nations sanctions measures. These documents are available for public access on the Attorney General’s website.

Key Obligations Under the Act

Institutions including law firms, foreign law firms, joint law ventures, and foreign lawyers are required to:

  • Regularly consult the United Nations Security Council Consolidated List, which features parties against whom targeted sanctions have been imposed.
  • Monitor local newspapers for any notices issued by the National Sanctions Secretariat and take immediate action upon receipt.

Additionally, institutions must:

  • Financial Prohibitions: refrain from dealing with funds or other assets of listed parties and making such assets available to them.
  • Reporting Obligations: verify whether a customer matches a listed party’s details and report any identified funds or assets to the National Sanctions Secretariat and Attorney General’s Office.

Internal Controls and Reporting

Institutions are required to implement internal controls and submit suspicious information relating to listed parties to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under section 14 of the Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Supervision and Enforcement

The Attorney General’s Office is responsible for supervising and enforcing compliance with the requirements imposed by the Act. Failure to comply with the legislation constitutes an offense.

As Mauritius reinforces its commitment to international sanctions, institutions are reminded of their obligations under the Act to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of targeted sanctions.