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Tuesday, July 22, 2026, 2026 at 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM EST

Gold has long been one of the world’s most trusted stores of value. It has also become one of the most consequential blind spots in U.S. sanctions enforcement.

OFAC has significantly expanded its focus on sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, targeting conflict actors, corrupt networks, and the illicit commodity flows that sustain them. From Wagner Group-linked gold operations in Mali, Sudan, and the Central African Republic, to Global Magnitsky designations targeting kleptocratic networks in Zimbabwe and the DRC, OFAC is using an increasingly sophisticated toolkit to disrupt illicit finance on the continent. And yet, significant gaps remain.
This session will examine how gold, critical minerals, and corruption are reshaping the African sanctions risk landscape, and what it means for compliance practitioners at financial institutions today.

Topics will include:

  • Active OFAC programs with African nexus: DRC, Mali, CAR, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Libya

  • Wagner Group/Africa Corps designations and their revenue networks

  • How OFAC is using the Global Magnitsky Act to target corruption and PEP-linked illicit finance

  • Gold and critical minerals as sanctions evasion vehicles: typologies and red flags

  • Weaknesses in existing due diligence frameworks and what better compliance looks like

  • EDD expectations for correspondent banking, trade finance, and precious metals relationships

  • The outlook for OFAC enforcement in Africa under the current administration

Chapter Webinar: An Exclusive Virtual Forum for Interactive Sanctions Discussions

The Chapter Webinar is an opportunity for ACSS members to join a discussion with their fellow Chapter members and discuss important issues affecting them on the ground.

The Call will be moderated by one of our Chapter Board Members, who will set the stage and then invite participants to contribute to the conversation.

  • The Call is a members-only, interactive conversation that enriches your connections and knowledge of specific sanctions topics.

  • Chatham House rules apply.

  • Chapter Webinars are NOT recorded, so attend live!

We hope you can join us!

Agenda

Certificates of Attendance for Chapter Events

All ACSS members who attend Chapter Events will be identified and issued a Certificate of Attendance through our system. Certificates can be used to earn ACSS credits, which contribute to recertification and eligibility for ACSS certification.

ACSS CSS/CXS Points |  3.0 

Please contact our Helpdesk at sanctionsassociation.org for more information.

Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists

The Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists (ACSS) is the premier global organization dedicated to advancing the professional knowledge and skills of sanctions and export control practitioners. ACSS is committed to offering top-tier training programs, including the Certified Sanctions Specialist (CSS) credential, which serves as the benchmark for professionals in this field. Our mission is to set and uphold standards for the sanctions profession, provide globally recognized qualifications, and build a vibrant, interconnected community of professionals worldwide. ACSS promotes the importance of sanctions compliance by delivering authoritative and respected content, serving the professional interests of our members, and enhancing their career paths. We aim to be the leading voice advocating for sanctions professionals, with a commitment to fostering best practices and safeguarding global trade and financial systems. Sanctions, as defined by leading experts, are the intentional withdrawal or threat of withdrawal of customary trade and financial relations by a government to influence the policies of a target country. This definition reflects the core understanding of economic sanctions and guides the mission of ACSS in shaping effective, compliant practices across industries globally.

 

Brad Brooks-Rubin

Partner
Arktouros pllc
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Brad Brooks-Rubin is a partner at Arktouros pllc, a boutique law firm specializing in sanctions, anti-money laundering, and regulatory advice. Brad advises financial institutions, gold and jewelry companies, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations on sanctions, responsible business, and related issues.

Most recently, Brad was a Senior Advisor in the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the U.S. Department of State, where he was responsible for sanctions policy coordination related to sub-Saharan Africa, Burma, the West Bank, and natural resources. Brad had re-joined State from 6.5 years as Policy Director and then Managing Director at The Sentry, an innovative civil society organization focused on investigating and disrupting the intersection of conflict and corruption. Brad also served as the Strategic Advisor & North America Engagement Lead at the Responsible Jewellery Council in 2021-2022.

Brad has also held roles at the Gemological Institute of America (where he focused on a range of projects related to sustainable development, human rights, and compliance), the U.S. Department of State (where he focused on the Kimberley Process and conflict minerals in eastern DRC, as well as a range of sanctions issues), the Department of the Treasury (where he served as an Attorney-Advisor for the Office of Chief Counsel, Foreign Assets Control, and concentrated on sanctions issues, principally related to a range of sub-Saharan African conflicts), as well as two law firms (where he advised clients on economic sanctions, export controls, and a range of business/human rights issues).

Brad is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where he teaches a course on the “resource curse,” a Board Member of the Wildlife Justice Commission and We Are Family DC, as well as a music writer and DJ on a community radio station in the DC area.

Howard Spieler

Chapter Chair

New York Chapter | Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists (ACSS)