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UnclaimedA United Nations Security Council committee that administers international sanctions against individuals and entities associated with ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Security Council responsible for administering a multilateral sanctions regime directed at individuals, entities and groups associated with Al-Qaida and ISIL (Da'esh). It was created on 15 October 1999 through Security Council Resolution 1267, initially in response to the Taliban's harboring of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. The original framework imposed financial restrictions on the Taliban and later expanded to cover Al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden and associated persons and organizations. The committee does not operate as a commercial brand or independent organization. It is a formal intergovernmental mechanism whose decisions are taken by consensus among representatives of the 15 Security Council members. Its principal practical instrument is the sanctions list, formerly known as the Consolidated List and now generally referred to as the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. Listed individuals and entities are subject to three principal measures: an assets freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo. United Nations Member States are expected to implement these measures through their domestic legal, financial, customs, immigration and law-enforcement systems. The regime developed through a series of Security Council resolutions. Resolution 1333 of 2000 broadened the framework to include Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida and added an arms embargo relating to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Resolution 1390 of 2002 made the measures global rather than territorially limited and established the list of designated persons and entities. Later resolutions introduced humanitarian exemptions, reporting obligations, more detailed listing criteria, narrative statements of reasons, review procedures and stronger cooperation with organizations such as INTERPOL and the International Civil Aviation Organization. In 2011, the Security Council separated the Taliban-related sanctions framework from the Al-Qaida framework. Resolutions 1988 and 1989 created a distinct Taliban sanctions committee and transformed the original body into the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. In 2015, Resolution 2253 expanded the regime to include ISIL (Da'esh), reflecting the organization's emergence as a major transnational terrorist threat. The committee's present mandate therefore focuses on the sanctions regime for ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities. The committee evaluates proposals for adding or removing names, reviews information supplied by Member States, maintains identifying information and narrative summaries, and monitors implementation challenges. It is supported by an expert Monitoring Team established under Resolution 1526 in 2004. The team studies terrorist financing, border controls, arms embargoes, counter-terrorism law, Al-Qaida and ISIL-linked networks, and changing patterns of threat. It provides analytical reports and recommendations to assist the committee and Member States. Procedural fairness has become an important part of the regime. Resolution 1904 of 2009 established the Office of the Ombudsperson, which receives and independently reviews delisting requests from listed individuals and entities before presenting relevant information and recommendations to the committee. The mechanism was intended to improve transparency, accuracy and due-process protections within a sanctions system that has significant effects on travel, financial access and international legal status. The committee remains one of three principal Security Council bodies dealing with counter-terrorism, alongside the Counter-Terrorism Committee established by Resolution 1373 and the committee established by Resolution 1540.
History
The committee originated in the Security Council's response to the Taliban's provision of sanctuary to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida. Resolution 1267, adopted on 15 October 1999 under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, established the committee and imposed sanctions connected with the Taliban. Resolution 1333, adopted in December 2000, extended the framework to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida and added an arms embargo relating to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Resolution 1390 in January 2002 marked a major structural change. It expanded the sanctions measures beyond Afghanistan, made them indefinite, and created the Consolidated List of designated individuals and entities. The core measures became an assets freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo. Resolution 1452 later introduced limited humanitarian exemptions, while Resolution 1455 required implementation reporting by states. The regime's institutional capacity grew in 2004 when Resolution 1526 established the Monitoring Team. The experts support the committee by assessing implementation, studying terrorist-financing and border-security risks, tracking changes in Al-Qaida-linked networks and recommending improvements. Subsequent resolutions refined the criteria for association with Al-Qaida, required more detailed information for listings and encouraged cooperation with INTERPOL, ICAO and other international bodies. Due-process mechanisms were added in response to concerns about transparency and the effects of designation. Resolution 1822 required narrative summaries of the reasons for listing and initiated a comprehensive review of names on the sanctions list. Resolution 1904 established the Office of the Ombudsperson and strengthened procedures for considering delisting requests, including independent review and improved notification arrangements. A decisive institutional split occurred on 17 June 2011. Resolutions 1988 and 1989 created a separate Taliban sanctions committee and divided the original regime. The committee formerly known as the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee became the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, dealing with persons and entities associated with Al-Qaida rather than the Taliban. In December 2015, Resolution 2253 expanded the sanctions framework to ISIL (Da'esh), leading to the current name and mandate. The committee is composed of representatives of all 15 Security Council members. Its chair and vice-chairs coordinate meetings and procedure, but substantive decisions are reached by consensus rather than by a chair exercising unilateral authority. The committee's continuing work includes maintaining the sanctions list, considering new listing and delisting proposals, assessing additional information, reviewing exemptions and supporting Member States in applying the sanctions consistently.
- 2015
ISIL (Da'esh) added to the mandate
[1]Resolution 2253 expanded the sanctions regime to individuals and entities associated with ISIL (Da'esh), producing the committee's current mandate and name.
- 2011
Taliban sanctions separated
[1]Resolutions 1988 and 1989 created a separate Taliban sanctions committee and converted the original body into the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
- 2009
Ombudsperson mechanism introduced
[1]Resolution 1904 established the Office of the Ombudsperson to review delisting requests and strengthen fairness and transparency.
- 2004
Monitoring Team established
[1]Resolution 1526 created an expert Monitoring Team to assist the committee with implementation analysis, threat assessment and list maintenance.
- 2002
Creation of the global sanctions list
[1]Resolution 1390 extended the sanctions beyond Afghanistan, introduced the travel ban and established the Consolidated List, later known as the Al-Qaida Sanctions List.
- 2000
Expansion to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida
[1]Resolution 1333 expanded the sanctions regime to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida and added an arms embargo relating to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
- 1999
Creation of the 1267 Committee
[1]Security Council Resolution 1267 established the committee on 15 October 1999 and created a sanctions framework initially focused on the Taliban and Afghanistan.
Products and positioning
A rules-based United Nations mechanism for coordinating targeted international sanctions against designated ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities.
Sanctions list · 2002
Al-Qaida Sanctions List
The committee's official register of designated individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaida and, under the current regime, ISIL (Da'esh). Member States use the identifying information and narrative summaries to apply the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. The list is updated through committee decisions and may include both persons and organizations.
Expert support mechanism · 2004
Monitoring Team
An expert body supporting the committee with research and analysis on terrorist financing, border security, arms embargoes, counter-terrorism law and the evolving threat from Al-Qaida and ISIL-linked networks. It reviews implementation by Member States, assists with list accuracy and produces reports and recommendations.
Delisting review mechanism · 2009
Office of the Ombudsperson
An independent and impartial review channel for individuals and entities seeking removal from the sanctions list. The Ombudsperson examines submissions, gathers relevant information and presents the results through the procedures established by the Security Council.
Brand decisions
2015
Expansion to ISIL (Da'esh)StrategyBackground
The rise of ISIL (Da'esh) created a need to apply the existing targeted sanctions architecture to the organization and its associated network.
Action taken
Resolution 2253 expanded the sanctions regime to ISIL (Da'esh) and associated individuals and entities.
Aftermath
The committee adopted its current ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida mandate and title.
2011
Separation of Taliban and Al-Qaida sanctionsStrategyBackground
The Security Council determined that Taliban-related sanctions should be administered separately from sanctions targeting Al-Qaida.
Action taken
Resolutions 1988 and 1989 created a dedicated Taliban committee and assigned the Al-Qaida regime to the reconfigured committee.
Aftermath
The original 1267 framework was divided into distinct Taliban and Al-Qaida sanctions tracks.
1999
Establishment of the initial sanctions regimeStrategyBackground
The Security Council responded to the Taliban's relationship with Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
Action taken
Resolution 1267 created the committee and imposed sanctions connected with the Taliban.
Aftermath
The committee became the institutional center of a broader and increasingly global counter-terrorism sanctions framework.
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