On Friday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Treasury Department of the United States of America, designated Jefferson Koijee, the current mayor of Monrovia, Liberia and a senior leader in the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) political party, for his alleged involvement in serious human rights abuses and corruption.
The Treasury Department says Koijee is known for his role in inciting violence and holds significant influence over Monrovia’s youth, as he controls paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC and allegedly recruits former combatants and recently released prisoners.
OFAC says it has reason to believe that Koijee has instructed these organizations to disrupt demonstrations conducted by government critics and political opposition through violent means.
It says Koijee’s involvement in violent acts dates back to a student graduation ceremony in December 2019 and includes incidents such as the opposition rally in July 2022 and an anti-rape protest in August 2020.
In addition to human rights abuses, the Treasury statement notes that Koijee has also allegedly been involved in corrupt activities such as bribery, misappropriation of state assets, and pressuring anti-corruption investigators to halt corruption investigations.
As a foreign government official responsible for or allegedly complicit in corruption and serious human rights abuses, OFAC states that Koijee falls under the provisions of Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which governs the designation of foreign persons engaged in corruption or human rights abuses.
Sanctions imposed by the US Treasury can have significant consequences for both individuals and entities, including foreign officials.
The US Treasury, through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has the authority to place sanctions on foreign individuals, entities, and governments for a variety of reasons, including human rights abuses, terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
These sanctions can take various forms, such as asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on doing business with US individuals and entities.
The consequences of US Treasury sanctions can be severe and can have a number of impacts on foreign officials, including:
Financial Impact: Sanctions can freeze assets held in US jurisdictions, preventing access to funds and financial resources. This can have a significant impact on the ability of sanctioned individuals to conduct financial transactions and access the international financial system.
Travel Restrictions: Sanctioned individuals may be subject to travel bans, preventing them from entering the United States or traveling to other countries that comply with US sanctions.
Economic Isolation: Sanctions can limit the ability of sanctioned individuals to engage in international trade and business, as well as limit their access to goods, services, and technology that are subject to US export controls.
Reputational Damage: Being placed on a sanctions list can lead to significant reputational damage, making it difficult for sanctioned individuals to engage in legitimate business activities and damaging their standing in the international community.
Political and Diplomatic Isolation: Sanctions can also lead to political and diplomatic isolation, as other countries may be reluctant to engage with sanctioned individuals or entities for fear of running afoul of US sanctions themselves.
Overall, US Treasury sanctions can have far-reaching consequences for foreign officials, impacting their financial, personal, and professional lives and limiting their ability to operate on the international stage.
In the case of Koijee. It may affect his family that presently based in the United States. Koijee has been loudmouth in recent times, especially after the elections in which the CDC was defeated.
He has been questioning the legitimacy of the polls and have been insinuating and making incinerating comments which some people see as undermining the security of the state of Liberia.
