Statement 128 Views

Sanctions Against the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise and Concerted Pressure with Partners

October 31st, 2023  •  Author:   U.S. Department of State  •  2 minute read
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Today, the United States is imposing targeted sanctions on the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).  As Burma’s most lucrative state-owned enterprise, MOGE provides hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign revenues every year to the military regime’s coffers, which the regime uses to purchase weapons and military materiel from abroad.  Through the issuance of a financial services directive against MOGE, the United States seeks to disrupt the regime’s access to the U.S. financial system and curtail its ability to perpetrate atrocities.

Additionally, the United States is coordinating with Canada and the United Kingdom to align our sanctions on the military regime.  The United States is designating three entities and five individuals who have supported the Burma regime’s perpetration of human rights violations and abuses since the February 2021 military coup d’etat against the country’s democratically elected government.  Today’s designations close avenues for sanctions evasion and strengthen our efforts to impose costs and promote accountability for the regime’s atrocities.  We continue to encourage all countries to take tangible measures to halt the flow of arms, aviation fuel, and revenue to the military regime.

The United States, Canada, and United Kingdom unequivocally condemn the Burma military’s ongoing assaults on those in the country striving for genuine peace and democracy.  We urge the international community to step up action to address the worsening human rights, humanitarian, political, and economic crisis in Burma.  Today’s actions support and advance the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the UN Security Council, and countries in the region to pursue a just resolution to the conflict in Burma.  The international community must deploy all diplomatic tools at its disposal to push the regime to end its atrocities and violence, release those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian assistance, and support the will of the people of Burma for genuine and inclusive democracy.

Today’s action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 14014, “Blocking Property With Respect to the Situation in Burma.”  For more information on the Directive and sanctions, see Treasury’s press release.


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