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3/19/2020

Treasury Sanctions Two Central African Republic Militia Commanders | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Sanctions Two Central African Republic Militia
Commanders
April 12, 2017

Action Targets Two Individuals for Destabilizing Activities in Bangui
Washington— Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s O ice of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) designated Abdoulaye Hissene (Hissene) and Maxime Mokom (Mokom) pursuant to
Executive Order (E.O.) 13667 for engaging in actions that threaten the peace, security, or
stability of the Central African Republic (CAR). As a result of today’s action, all property and
interests in property of these individuals within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons
are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
“The individuals designated today are responsible for prolonging instability in the Central
African Republic,” said OFAC Director John E. Smith. “Today’s action underscores our ongoing
e orts to target those responsible for fueling violence and human rights abuses in the Central
African Republic.”
Abdoulaye Hissene and Maxime Mokom
In September 2015, Hissene and Mokom collaborated as part of a larger alliance between exSéléka members and anti-Balaka allies of former CAR President Francois Bozize, who was
sanctioned in May of 2014, to encourage violence in Bangui. Their collaboration was part of a
failed coup attempt designed to overthrow the CAR Government while then-Transitional
President Catherine Samba-Panza was attending the 2015 UN General Assembly. Hissene and
Mokom were specifically identified as suspects in the failed coup by the CAR Public Prosecutor’s
o ice.
In addition, Hissene conspired with Mokom to disrupt a constitutional referendum held in
December 2015. Mokom’s anti-Balaka forces worked with elements of Hissene’s Popular Front
for the Rebirth of the CAR (FPRC) ex-Séléka group to intimidate voters and disrupt polling in the
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-release/sm0041

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3/19/2020

Treasury Sanctions Two Central African Republic Militia Commanders | U.S. Department of the Treasury

town of Kaga Bandoro during the December 13 vote. Hissene also encouraged retaliatory
attacks between di erent groups. Hissene is specifically accused of orchestrating violence in
Bangui’s KM5 district that killed five, wounded 20, and prevented residents from voting in the
referendum.
In June 2016, Hissene’s KM5 fighters and Mokom’s anti-Balaka supporters may have planned to
disrupt the arrival of CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s flight to Bangui airport,
leading the CAR Government to warn publicly of a possible coup attempt.
On August 12, 2016, Hissene and a group of armed men traveling north from Bangui engaged
CAR security forces in multiple gunfights. The UN’s peacekeeping mission in the CAR, the UN’s
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA),
eventually captured some of the men, but Hissene and several others escaped.
For identifying information on the individuals designated today, click here.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-release/sm0041

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