On May 4, 2023, President Biden signed a new Executive Order, Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons Destabilizing Sudan and Undermining the Goal of a Democratic Transition, stating that the violence taking place in Sudan “is a tragedy” and “must end.”
Finding that the situation in Sudan constitutes an extraordinary threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy, President Biden through the executive order expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997, Blocking Sudanese Government Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Sudan, and Executive Order 13400 of April 26, 2006, Blocking Property of Persons in Connection With the Conflict in Sudan’s Darfur Region. The executive order authorizes the imposition of new sanctions on foreign persons to address the situation in Sudan following the military’s seizure of power in October 2021 and the outbreak of inter-service fighting in April 2023 and to support Sudan’s transition to democracy and a civilian transitional government.
The new executive order blocks all property and interests in property of foreign persons determined to be responsible for certain listed actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of Sudan, obstruct Sudan’s transition to democracy, undermine democratic processes, engage in censorship, engage in corruption, commit serious human rights abuses, target civilians or obstruct the activities of United Nations missions in Sudan. Such property or interests may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt in by any U.S. person. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also amended FAQ No. 836, adding the executive order as a new sanction authority in effect with respect to Sudan.