On 26 April 2021, the UK’s first sanctions under the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/488) (“the Regulations”) came into force. The Regulations are made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering...more
A recent Supreme Court decision sets important precedent on the retroactive effect of legislation amending the law governing sovereign immunity in the United States. On May 18, 2020, the Supreme Court handed a victory to...more
The Supreme Court in Opati v. Republic of Sudan, No. 17–1268, 590 U.S. ___ (2020), has held that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act ("FSIA") allows certain plaintiffs to recover punitive damages from state sponsors of...more
On May 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Opati v. Republic of Sudan, holding that plaintiffs who sue a foreign government under the state-sponsored-terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act can seek...more
Opati v. Republic of Sudan, No. 17-1268: Victims of a 1998 al Qaeda attack outside the United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania brought suit in federal court against the Republic of Sudan, alleging that Sudan had...more
Leading the News - Libya - On March 28th, Libya’s United Nations (U.N.)-backed unity government accused authorities in Tripoli of closing down the capital’s airspace to prevent it from travelling to Libya from...more
Leading the News - Republic of Congo - On March 20th, the Republic of Congo (ROC) held voting in a presidential election that was predicted to see President Denis Sassou Nguesso extend his three-decade rule....more
Leading the News - Cote d’Ivoire - On March 13th, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) gunmen armed with assault rifles stormed the beach hotels in Grand-Bassam, a region population with Ivoirian and Western...more
Leading the News - Somalia - On March 5th, the U.S. military, in self-defense and in defense of African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) partners, conducted an airstrike against Raso Camp, a training facility...more
Leading the News: Burundi - On February 25th, Human Rights Watch (HRW) unveiled a new report documenting a wide range of human rights abuses, including killings, torture, abductions, and arbitrary arrests committed by...more
Leading the News - Burundi - On February 22nd, three people were killed in gun and grenade attacks in Burundi, just hours before the planned arrival of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for talks...more
Leading the News - Burundi - On February 12th, the United Nations (U.N.) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) (MINUSCA) announced its decision to repatriate three...more
Leading the News - Burundi - On February 5th, newly elected African Union (AU) Assembly Chairman and President of Chad Idriss Deby appointed a high-level delegation of five African heads of state to negotiate with...more
Leading the News - Burundi - On January 22nd, during a visit to Bujumbura, the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council met with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza to advocate for peace talks and the deployment of...more
Almost everyone who enters the U.S. for business visits must either (a) have a B-1 visa (which may include a B1/B2 visa) or (b) be eligible to enter without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. If you have a...more
In the aftermath of the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) was amended significantly on December 18, 2015, when the enactment of the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2029) was signed...more
VWP nationals who have visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria since March 1, 2011, or who hold dual nationality with one of the countries are no longer eligible for the VWP....more
Leading the News - Burundi - On January 12th, the Burundian Justice Ministry indicated the verdict on the trial of former Defense Minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye and 27 others accused of plotting the failed coup...more
Leading the News - Libya: On December 11th, the new United Nations (U.N.) Special Representative for Libya Martin Kobler announced the parties to the country’s political dialogue process reached an agreement to...more
Leading the News - Nigeria: On December 1st, the United Nations (U.N.) reported nearly 450 schools have reopened in Borno state, Nigeria since October after being closed for more than 18 months following the Boko...more
Leading the News - Egypt: On November 12th, officials at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) noted while they had offered assistance to both Egyptian...more
Leading the News - Egypt: On October 31st, a Russian jet carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing all people on board. While the cause of the crash was not...more
Leading the News - Tanzania: On October 25th, voters in Tanzania went to the polls to vote for a candidate to replace outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete, who was unable to run for a third term under the country’s...more
On October 17th, members of the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council urged all Libyan parties to endorse and sign the recently finalized political agreement for the creation of a Government of National Accord. The Security...more
Leading the News - Libya: On October 8th, The Washington Post provided an update on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) activities in Sirte, Libya. Since taking hold of Sirte earlier this year, ISIL...more