The European Union (EU) has taken action against human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), imposing sanctions on Friday against nine individuals and one entity. The sanctions target those deemed responsible for human rights abuses and their role in sustaining the conflict in the eastern part of the country.
Among the individuals targeted are two leaders of the M23 rebel group, a Tutsi-led group that has escalated its activities in eastern Congo this year. Two individuals from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda are also included in the sanctions list. The EU alleges that both groups fuel the armed conflict by instigating violence. They are further accused of severe human rights abuses, encompassing killings, sexual violence, attacks on civilians, and the recruitment of children.
The EU sanctions extend to a commander from both the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the Rwanda Defence Force, along with two individuals associated with the Collectif des Mouvements pour le Changement-Forces de Défense du Peuple. The entity targeted by the EU is the Alliance Fleuve Congo, a politico-military movement established in Kenya but operating in eastern Congo.
Since the end of 2021, the Congolese and Ugandan armies have been engaging in joint operations against the ADF in North Kivu and the neighboring Ituri province. Despite these efforts, they have failed to curb the deadly attacks on civilians. Notably, in 2019, the ADF pledged allegiance to ISIS, being recognized as its Central African branch. The ADF stands accused of massacres targeting Congolese civilians and orchestrating attacks in neighboring Uganda.
The EU’s sanctions aim to hold accountable individuals and entities responsible for the ongoing human rights abuses and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
