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The United Nations has imposed sanctions on six individuals associated with armed movements operating in eastern DRC. These individuals are linked with M23, Twirwaneho group, ADF, and FDLR.
These individuals were placed under the UN sanctions after the recommendations from France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. They are accused by the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee of committing human rights violations and abuses of international humanitarian law, including attacks on civilians, killings, rapes, abductions, and assaults on schools and hospitals.
Among the sanctioned individuals are:
Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson of the M23. This designation is not new for him, as he is already listed on the sanctions lists of the United States and the European Union. This new sanction further tarnishes the image of the M23, which is still seeking direct dialogue with Kinshasa. The group is also accused by the UN of causing the deaths of at least 150 civilians in the past three months.
Michel Rukunda, also known as Makanika, is the commander of the Twirwaneho armed group, active in South Kivu. Despite previous sanctions imposed by the United States, his group has recently resumed hostilities against Mai-Mai militias in southern Minembwe. UN experts also accuse the Twirwaneho group of collaborating with the M23.
Apollinaire Hakizimana, commander of the FDLR, is already under US sanctions due to the threat his group poses to the security of Congolese and Rwandan civilians.
Two leaders of the ADF, Ahmad Mahmood Hassan from Tanzania, and Mohamed Ali Nkalubo from Uganda are also targeted by sanctions. Finally, William Amuri Yakutumba, leader of the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC), is also included on the list of sanctioned individuals. These announcements come amid renewed tensions in eastern DRC.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/us-asks-rwanda-to-end-its-support-to-m23-rebels-in-drc/
https://trendsnafrica.com/france-calls-on-rwanda-to-end-interference-in-drc-and-support-to-m23/
UN sanctions can also apply to individual people or companies. Sanctions are a common tool for seeking to influence foreign governments and individuals to change their behaviour. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can impose sanctions in response to a threat to international peace and security.
