Western Union says money transfer to Sudan not affected by US sanctions
By Wasil Ali
June 3, 2007 (WASHINGTON) —Western Union, a leading financial services company specialized in money transfer service, said that the new US sanctions on Sudan will have no material impact on their business.
Kristin Kelly the media relations manager at Western Union told Sudan Tribune that the new sanctions “only imposes restrictions on who can send money to and receive money in Sudan”.
US President Bush signed an order last week enforcing sanctions against 31 Sudanese companies owned or controlled by Sudan’s government from the U.S. banking system. The sanctions also prevent three Sudanese individuals from doing business with U.S. companies or banks.
Money transfers by individuals to Sudan, Syria and Cuba from the US through Western Union are subject to more scrutiny than other nations. The extra measures required by the US treasury aim to prevent the flow of money to individuals or companies subject to US sanctions.
Sudanese citizens residing in a number of US states told Sudan Tribune that were barred from sending money last week for unknown reasons. However Kristin Kelly refused to comment saying that Western Union “does not share information with third parties about individual consumers’ transactions”.
The Western Union Spokeswomen urged any individuals in the US who have issues with sending or receiving money to contact their customer service center at 1-800-325-6000.
(ST)