Switzerland updates ISIL and Al-Qaida sanctions list
Swiss financial intermediaries must update ISIL and Al-Qaida sanctions controls after SECO's SESAM change
FINMA
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Change
SECO updated Switzerland's SESAM sanctions database after the UN sanctions committee amended the ISIL and Al-Qaida sanctions list on March 26, 2026.
Why it matters
The UN list change is directly applicable in Switzerland, so Swiss sanctions controls must reflect the SESAM update without waiting for a separate domestic implementation step. Swiss financial intermediaries must implement the prohibitions, freeze assets of sanctioned persons and report affected business relationships to SECO, while still completing AML enquiries and MROS reporting where suspicion remains.
Implications
- — Swiss sanctions-screening teams must update customer and transaction-screening controls with the amended SESAM entries for ISIL, Da'esh and Al-Qaida.
- — Swiss financial intermediaries holding assets of sanctioned persons must freeze those assets and report affected business relationships to SECO under the Ordinance.
- — AML compliance teams at Swiss financial intermediaries must continue Article 6 AMLA enquiries and file with MROS under Article 9 AMLA if suspicion cannot be cleared, because SECO reporting does not replace AML reporting duties.
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