European Union targets high-ranking officials and entities linked to human rights abuses and security threats.
The European Union has announced sanctions against nine officials in Myanmar, along with seven entities, including government departments and companies, in response to escalating violence and human rights violations.
On Monday, the EU implemented travel bans and asset freezes on the officials—among them the energy minister and senior military leaders—due to their involvement in actions that undermine the peace and stability of Myanmar. Additionally, the assets of defense ministry departments and various companies have been frozen in Europe.
Myanmar has endured strict military rule for fifty years, leading to international isolation and sanctions. Following the military’s loosening of control and Aung San Suu Kyi’s rise to leadership in the 2015 elections, many sanctions were lifted, and investment flowed into the nation.
However, this progress was reversed by a military coup on February 1, 2021, when the military rejected the results of the November 2020 elections, which had been decisively won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party. The coup sparked widespread public protests, which have since escalated into armed resistance, drawing comparisons to a civil war by some United Nations experts.
Recent reports indicate that the military government plans to permit “loyal” citizens, including government workers and retired military personnel, to carry licensed firearms.
The latest sanctions, approved by EU foreign ministers, bring the total number of individuals targeted to 93, along with 18 agencies, companies, or organizations. The EU has also maintained an arms embargo and restrictions on equipment that could be used for internal repression or surveillance.
