ICC Note:
The United Nations (UN) Security Council’s Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities has reportedly failed to object to the addition of Boko Haram to a list of known entities officially recognized as affiliated with al-Qaeda. In being added to the list, additional leverage has been granted to impose assets freezes, weapons embargoes and travel bans in efforts to curb Boko Haram’s ability to perpetrate acts of terror. A major victory for Nigeria, a temporary member of the Council serving a two-year term, the recognition of affiliation could lead to even greater international support being lent to the Nigerian Army to assist it in its pursuit to incapacitate the Islamic insurgency.
05/22/2014 United Nations (The Bellingham Herald) – The U.N. Security Council has imposed sanctions against the al-Qaida-linked terrorist group Boko Haram, which has carried out a wave of deadly attacks and the recent abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria, the United States said Thursday.
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power welcomed the council’s action, calling it “an important step in support of the government of Nigeria’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities.”
Nigeria, which is serving a two-year term on the council, asked the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaida to add Boko Haram to the list of al-Qaida-linked organizations subject to an arms embargo and asset freeze.
The 14 other council member had until 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on Thursday to object and none did. So the committee will now add Boko Haram to the al-Qaida sanctions list.
By adding Boko Haram to the sanctions list, Power said, “the Security Council has helped to close off important avenues of funding, travel and weapons to Boko Haram, and shown global unity against their savage actions.”
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