The term “sanction” has recently appeared in many Liberian news headlines. The Stage Media (TSM) is concerned, however, about the public’s understanding of the punishments, functions, and effectiveness of sanctions.
The United States sanctioned four Liberian government officials in December. Jefferson Koijee, Mayor of Monrovia and Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change; Finance Minister Samuel Tweah; Senators J. Emmanuel Nuquay and Nathaniel McGill of Margibi; and Grand Kru Senator Albert Chie.
The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) designated Koijee for stoking violence and his powerful grip on Monrovia’s youth. Tweah, Nuquay, and Chie were designated by the U.S. State Department under Section 7031(c) for their alleged involvement in significant corruption by abusing their public positions by soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes.
Three top Liberian officials are accused by the US government of offering or receiving bribes to influence legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity.
As part of this action, the United States stated that their immediate family members, including their spouses, Delecia Berry Tweah, Abigail Chie, and Ruthtoria Brown Nuquay, as well as Tweah and Nuquay’s minor children, are also designated.
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) designated Koijee for inciting violence and having a powerful hold on Monrovia’s youth.
“He controls paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC, which allegedly recruits former combatants and recently released prisoners. OFAC has reason to believe that Koijee has instructed these organizations to violently disrupt demonstrations conducted by government critics or political opposition,” the sanction statement read.
Koijee has termed the US sanctions against him the biggest conspiracy among all the accusations that have come forth his way. Chie also termed as misleading and false the allegation levied against him.
None of the sanction officials accepted the action by the United States.
This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis to answer many of the fundamental questions surrounding the sanctions imposed by the US government on those individuals and entities.
What is Sanction?
Sanctions are a technique used by the United States government to put pressure on foreign countries to get what they want from the state. Generally, a penalty is imposed by imposing a particular economic limitation.
It is also known as the punishments a country (or group of countries) puts on another country. Generally, a sanction is carried out by imposing a certain economic limitation.
The United States has established commercial and financial sanctions programs to address various threats to national security and interests, including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, racism, and diplomatic and economic problems. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is a prominent financial sanction organization that enforces these programs.
OFAC is a U.S. Department of Treasury division responsible for administering and enforcing U.S. economic and trade sanctions programs. Its mission is to help advance U.S. foreign policy goals by using sanctions and other tools to counter national security threats and promote foreign policy objectives.
Through its programs, OFAC prohibits U.S. individuals or entities from doing business with designated entities, including foreign governments, individuals, and groups, and imposes restrictions on their financial transactions and asset holdings. OFAC maintains a list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) identifying individuals and organizations subject to U.S. sanctions.
Who has the US sanctioned in Liberia?
| Name | Address | Type |
| BALLITO BAY SHIPPING INCORPORATED | VENEZUELA-EO13850 | SDN |
| BLUE TANKER SHIPPING SA | Entity | |
| CEPHUS, Sayma Syrenius | Individual | |
DOLPHIN TRADING COMPANY LIMITEDGALLION NAVIGATION Incorporation | Bob Taylor Road, Paynesville | Entity |
| GARBIN NAVIGATION LTD | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| GOLDEN FISH LIBERIA LTD. | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
HERCULES INTERNATIONAL SHIP HERMIS SHIPPING SA | 2nd Street Sinkor; Logan Town; Montserrado County | Entity |
| HS ATLANTICA LIMITED | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| JENNIFER NAVIGATION LIMITED | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| JOHNSON, Prince Yormie | Nimba County | individual |
| JUPITER SEAWAYS SHIPPING | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| KOIJEE, Jefferson | 21 Street Sinkor | Individual |
| KONING MARINE CORP | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| LARGE RANGE LIMITED | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| LUMBER MARINE SA | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| MCGILL, Nathaniel | individual | |
| SHERMAN, Harry Varney Gboto-Nambi | 17th Street and Chessman Avenue; Sinkor; P.O. Box 10-3218,10 | Individual |
| SKY TRADE COMPANY | Logan Town, Opposite rice store | Entity |
| STREYMOY SHIPPING LIMITED | 80 Broad Street | Entity |
| TWEHWAY, Bill | Individual |
What is next?
Professor Joanna Swen said the waves of sanctions within six years seem to have broken the outgoing government, but the issues still face the next one.
She thinks the Human Rights Body of Liberia is established; nevertheless, despite its effectiveness in addressing human rights issues, the body lacks prosecutorial authority.
“This implies that some high-ranking Liberian government officials will still not be granted visas by the US. Ultimately, though, the Liberian people’s reaction will decide how big of a deal this is for President-elect Joseph Boakai and his administration,” said Dr Swen
Experts view
Dr Swen said that every sanction has features specific to it, adding, “relief from US sanctions normally starts with a Petition for Delisting to be filed with the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which manages sanction matters for the US Treasury Department. “
She said the sanction target or US sanction lawyers can represent Liberians in the sanction case: “The sanction target may represent himself or herself or be represented by a certified US sanctions lawyer.”
According to her, all proceedings will take place in the US and not Liberia; a Liberian who is not a certified US sanctions lawyer cannot represent a sanctions target.
What do Liberian human rights defenders think?
Adama Dempster, a human rights activist, said, “The human rights community welcomes the U.S. sanctions on the grounds they seek to address numerous human rights-related abuses allegedly committed by Jefferson Koijee and others, and we look forward to the government investigating and prosecuting them.”
Furthermore, Dempster said the sanctions reinforced efforts to prevent the reoccurrence of abuse, violations, and misuse of public office by individuals serving in political positions.
Dempster said the sanctions further meant to strengthen the fight against corruption and to bring an end to the culture of impunity for crimes committed during the civil wars and now in Liberia.
“For justice and accountability, the government should investigate and prosecute perpetrators of human rights violations, but unfortunately, this is not the only sanction case Liberia has faced in recent times,” said Dempster.
He, however, called on the U.S. to follow up on enforcing the sanctions on individuals named in previous and current sanctions lists.
