Actions Target Militia Leaders Responsible For Violence and Diamond Companies Facilitating Militants’ Illicit Trade in Blood Diamonds

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated Central African Republic (CAR) militia leaders...for being leaders of groups that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the CAR.  OFAC also sanctioned CAR- and Belgium-based diamond companies BADICA and KARDIAM...for providing support to persons threatening the peace, security, or stability of the CAR through the illicit trade in natural resources...[Any] assets these individuals and entities may have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them...

BADICA is one of the largest diamond companies in the CAR, and KARDIAM is BADICA’s branch in Antwerp, Belgium... BADICA buys rough diamonds from mines that are under Seleka control and smuggles them out of the country for export to KARDIAM.  BADICA and its affiliates made illicit payments to the Seleka in an effort to smuggle diamonds out of the country.  Between mid-2014 and March 2015, BADICA bought over 1,100 carats of diamonds from mines in Seleka-controlled Bria and Sam Ouandja.  BADICA’s leadership is closely tied to senior Seleka commanders, including Noureddine Adam.