FIC Circular 16 of 2026: UN amends ISIL and Al-Qaida sanctions entry
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The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) issued Circular No. 16 of 2026 on 29 September 2026. It notifies accountable institutions, reporting institutions and other persons that the UN Security Council's ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee amended one entry on its sanctions list on 28 September 2026.
What changed
The amended entry is QDe.168, Khatiba Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (KTJ), first listed on 7 March 2022. The entry also lists the names Jannat Oshiklari, Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad and Katiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. UN press release SC/16465 sets out the amended details. Entities on this list are subject to an asset freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo.
Who it affects
The circular applies to accountable and reporting institutions under the Financial Intelligence Act, 2012 (FIA), which include accountants listed in Schedule 1, and to any person, business, entity or organisation it may apply to. It is issued under section 9(1)(h) of the FIA, read with sections 23, 24 and 25 of the Prevention and Combating of Terrorist and Proliferation Activities Act, 2014.
Key dates
What to do
1. Re-screen clients, directors and beneficial owners against the amended entry, including all the names listed.
2. Record the screening: date, list used, result and reviewer, even where there is no match.
3. If a match is confirmed, freeze the funds and assets immediately without notice to the client and report to the FIC through a Sanctions Name Match Activity (SNMA) report on goAML.
4. Subscribe to UN sanctions list updates by emailing sc-sanctionslists@un.org. Subscription is free.
5. For the full process, from possible matches to record-keeping, see our guide: Sanctions screening for Namibian accountants.
The circular states that failure to comply with its guidelines and instructions is considered a violation under section 63 of the FIA. Enquiries go to the FIC help desk at helpdesk@fic.na or +264 61 285 0010.