EU Sanctions People, Entity for Human Rights Violations

The Council of the EU on July 26 sanctioned nine people and one entity for committing human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Alliance Fleuve Congo, a "politico-military movement" operating in the eastern DRC, was listed, as was its leader, Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo.

The individuals include Benjamin Mbonimpa and Justin Gacheri Musanga, two leaders of the nongovernmental armed group March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army, and two commanders of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda - Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi. Both groups are contributing to the armed conflict in the DRC and are responsible for "killings, sexual violence and attacks on civilians, as well as child recruitment," the council said.

The council also sanctioned commanders of two other violent groups: the Allied Democratic Forces and Collectif des Mouvements pour le Changement-Forces de Defense du Peuple, along with a colonel of the Rwanda Defense Force.

The U.S. announced similar sanctions last week (see 2407250043).