Aktualisierte Sanktionsmeldung: Sudan
Executive Summary
This FINMA publication announces an update to the Swiss sanctions list for Sudan following changes by the UN Sanctions Committee on February 24, 2026, directly incorporated into Switzerland's SESAM database by SECO on February 25, 2026. It matters because financial intermediaries must immediately freeze assets of newly listed parties and report to SECO, while continuing AML due diligence under the GwG (Anti-Money Laundering Act), to avoid enforcement risks from non-compliance with Embargo Act (EmbG) obligations. #
What Changed
- The UN Sanctions Committee for Sudan amended its list of sanctioned natural persons, companies, and organizations on February 24, 2026. - SECO updated the SESAM (SECO Sanctions Management) database and published the changes on its website on February 25, 2026. - This triggers direct applicability in Switzerland under the Federal Council's 2016 ordinance for automatic adoption of UN sanctions lists, amending Annex of SR 946.231.18 (Ordinance on Measures against Sudan). - Financial intermediaries are required to implement prohibitions, freeze assets, and report affected business relationships to SECO; SECO reporting does not exempt AML suspicions under Art. 6 and 9 GwG. Related prior update: On February 18, 2026 (23:00 CET), WBF amended Annex 2, with SESAM updated accordingly. #
What You Need To Do
- Screen client portfolios, accounts, and transactions against the updated SESAM Sudan list via SECO's website or MyFINMA notifications
- Freeze (block) assets of any matches and implement transaction prohibitions per the ordinance
- Report affected business relationships to SECO promptly
- Conduct additional due diligence under Art
- Monitor FINMA's sanctions page for ongoing updates
Key Dates
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High - Changes are directly applicable with no grace period, requiring immediate asset freezes and reporting to mitigate FINMA enforcement risks (e.g., coercive measures under administrative law). Non-compliance exposes firms to supervisory sanctions, reputational damage, and potential criminal liability under EmbG/GwG, especially amid frequent UN list updates (e.g., recent February 18 ch
Who is Affected
Summary
Das Eidgenössische Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung WBF hat eine Änderung des Anhangs der Verordnung vom 25. Mai 2025 über Massnahmen gegenüber Sudan (SR 946.231.18) publiziert.