Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to UNITA

This executive order imposes sanctions on UNITA, an Angolan rebel group, by closing its U.S. offices and prohibiting U.S. persons from selling or servicing aircraft to UNITA or for non-authorized entry into Angola. The order implements UN Security Council Resolutions 1127 and 1130 and builds on a prior national emergency declaration.

Federal Register Open PDF 62 FR 65989

Impact dates

Date TBD
Secretary of Treasury to specify points of entry, places, and exempt aircraft registrations
Dec 15, 1997
Order takes effect; UNITA offices must close; prohibitions become active

Key directives

Close all UNITA offices in the United States immediately
Prohibit sale, supply, or making available of aircraft/components to UNITA or to Angola except through specified points of entry
Prohibit insurance, engineering, or servicing of UNITA-owned or controlled aircraft
Restrict aircraft overflight/landing permissions for flights to/from non-authorized Angolan locations
Prohibit engineering, maintenance, airworthiness certification, and insurance for non-authorized Angolan-registered aircraft
Prohibit evasion or attempted violation of any order prohibitions
Secretary of Treasury to specify places, points of entry, and exempt aircraft in consultation with Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury authorized to grant humanitarian exemptions for medical emergency and food/medicine flights
All agencies to suspend or terminate existing licenses inconsistent with order
Order effective at 12:01 a.m. EST December 15, 1997

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

UNITA offices in U.S. must close
Aircraft and component sales to UNITA prohibited
Insurance and servicing of UNITA aircraft prohibited
Restrictions on U.S. overflight/landing permissions for Angola-bound aircraft

Near term (90d)

Secretary of Treasury to specify authorized points of entry into Angola
Secretary of Treasury to specify exempt aircraft registrations
Promulgation of implementing regulations
Potential redelegation of enforcement functions

Long term

Ongoing sanctions enforcement
Potential humanitarian exemptions for medical and food flights
Continued coordination with UN sanctions regime

Risks & tensions

Vague timeline for Treasury specification of entry points creates compliance uncertainty for aviation industry
Humanitarian exemption process undefined—may delay critical aid if not implemented quickly
Broad definition of 'UNITA' including 'any person acting or purporting to act' creates due process risk
Retroactive nullification of existing contracts and licenses may trigger legal challenges
Reliance on UN Security Council resolutions ties U.S. policy to international body decisions
Potential tension between sanctions enforcement and humanitarian access to Angola