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As an international financial centre, Mauritius is committed to protecting its financial services sector from abuse by illicit actors engaging in proliferation financing and other proliferation efforts. All natural and legal persons in Mauritius should exercise caution and vigilance in order to ensure that they do not in any way whatsoever support individuals or organisations which are subject to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) proliferation-related sanctions under UNSC Resolutions 1718 (2006) related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), 2231(2015) related to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and their successor resolutions.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requires States to implement targeted financial sanctions related to proliferation financing under Recommendation 7.

Mauritius, being a member of the United Nations (UN) and having endorsed the FATF Standards as a member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), enacted the United Nations (Financial Prohibitions, Arms Embargo and Travel Ban) Sanctions Act (the Sanctions Act) in May 2019. The Sanctions Act provides the legal framework for the implementation of UN sanctions as adopted by the UNSC under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. This legislation also implements the requirements of the FATF regarding targeted financial sanctions under Recommendation 7.

Section 7 of the Sanctions Act establishes the National Sanctions Secretariat (NSSec) which is the focal point for UN sanctions related matters, including targeted financial sanctions related to proliferation financing. It supports the work of the National Sanctions Committee (NSC) which is established under section 4 of the Sanctions Act. Among others, the NSC is the competent authority for:

a. proposing to the relevant UN Sanctions Committee targets for designation;

b. making decisions in relation to the declaration of a person or entity pursuant to UNSC 1373(2001);

c. coordinating and promoting effective implementation of the obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions in Mauritius;

d. coordinating the development of, review and implement national policies and activities for the effective implementation of UNSC Resolutions;

e. coordinating international cooperation in the cross-border implantation of the UNSC Resolutions between Mauritius and other countries and foreign counterpart agencies; and

f. approving guidelines developed by the National Sanctions Secretariat.

Access the Guidelines on the Implementation of Targeted Financial Sanctions Under The United Nations (Financial Prohibitions, Arms Embargo And Travel Ban) Sanctions Act 2019 here.