Making a Difference
Designating and Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
WASHINGTON / PRN Africa / — Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Today, the Department of State is designating two ISIS leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, under Executive Order 13224. Both individuals have committed sexual violence against Yezidis and were responsible for the abduction and enslavement of Yezidi women and girls. More than 2,700 women and children, mainly Yezidis, remain unaccounted for.
Arkan Ahmad ‘Abbas al-Matuti (aka Abu Sarhan) is a senior field military commander in Wilayat al-Jazirah, having held several positions within ISIS, including the wali of the Bulayj, Syria sector. Al-Matuti was involved in selling Yezidi women and girls, taking several Yezidi captives as sexual slaves for himself.
Nawaf Ahmad Alwan al-Rashidi (aka Abu Faris) manages ISIS financial payments to members and widows and works in the group’s smuggling operations. Al-Rashidi was involved in planning, coordinating, and conducting several attacks in Syria between 2018-2019. Al-Rashidi was also responsible for the sexual slavery and rape of Yezidi women and girls in Sinjar, Iraq.
The United States is also concurrently designating two South Sudan-based individuals, under Executive Order 13664, involved in abductions and conflict-related sexual violence.
James Nando is a Major General in South Sudan People’s Defense Forces. In 2021, forces loyal to Nando were responsible for at least 64 instances of rape and sexual slavery against civilians in Western Equatoria. In 2018, Nando was responsible for the abduction of hundreds of women and girls.
Alfred Futuyo is Governor of Western Equatoria and affiliated with Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition. In 2018, forces under Futuyo’s command carried out numerous attacks in Western Equatoria that resulted in the abduction of 887 civilians, of whom at least 43 were raped.
The United States remains steadfast in our resolve to promote accountability for those who violate or abuse human rights, particularly against women and girls.
As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property of those designated today that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and all U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the designated individuals.
For additional accounts from al-Matuti and al-Rashidi’s victims and other Yezidi survivors, please see: Yazidi Women Tell Their Horrific Stories, Yazidi girls tell of escape From IS, and Life in and after captivity: the story of a Yezidi survivor. For additional accounts of human rights violations and abuses in South Sudan, please see: The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan’s report “State of Impunity: the persistence of violence and human rights violations in South Sudan.” For more information about Treasury’s actions, please see their press release page.
SOURCE US Department of State