Aktualisierte Sanktionsmeldung: Demokratische Republik Kongo

What Changed

• - The UN sanctions committee amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies, and organizations relating to the Democratic Republic of Congo on 16 July 2026.
• The change is directly applicable in Switzerland, so firms cannot wait for a separate Swiss implementing act before acting on the updated list.
• SECO updated the Swiss sanctions database SESAM on 17 July 2026 and published the update on its website.
• Financial intermediaries must implement the prohibitions set out in the ordinance, including freezing the assets of sanctioned persons.
• Financial intermediaries must report the affected business relationships to SECO.
• A SECO report does not remove the obligation to carry out additional clarifications under Article 6 AMLA/GwG where there are indications of suspicion.

Suggested Considerations

• Review sanctions screening results immediately against the updated Congo-related list in SESAM and any internal watchlists to identify matching clients, counterparties, and beneficial owners.
• Freeze assets and block prohibited dealings involving newly designated persons, companies, or organizations as required by the ordinance.
• Report affected business relationships to SECO in line with the sanctions ordinance requirements.
• Perform enhanced internal clarifications under Article 6 GwG/AMLA whenever a sanctions hit or other red flags create suspicion.
• File an immediate suspicious activity report with the Money Laundering Reporting Office under Article 9 GwG/AMLA if doubts cannot be resolved.
• Re-test automated screening rules, name-matching logic, and escalation workflows to confirm the list update is embedded in production controls without delay.

Key Dates

Who is Affected