The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on nine individuals and one entity for their roles in sustaining the armed conflict, instability, and insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The listed individuals include senior leaders of the March 23 Movement (M23), high-ranking officials in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), and a top Rwandan mining executive accused of profiting from the illicit trade of conflict minerals.
The measures follow the escalation of violence in eastern DRC, driven by the renewed offensive of M23/Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which the EU says is supported by the Rwandan military. Those sanctioned are subject to a travel ban and asset freeze, while EU citizens and companies are barred from providing them with financial support.
Sanctioned M23 Leaders
The EU has listed five senior figures from M23, a UN-sanctioned armed group operating in eastern DRC:
- Bertrand Bisimwa – President of M23.
- Désiré Rukomera – Head of recruitment and propaganda.
- Col. John Imani Nzenze – Senior military commander.
- Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi – Deputy chief of finances and production.
- Joseph Musanga Bahati – Appointed governor of North Kivu under M23’s illegal administration, violating Congolese sovereignty.
Sanctioned Rwandan Military Officials
The EU has also targeted three senior officers of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) for their alleged support of M23 and their role in sustaining the conflict in eastern DRC:
- Ruki Karusisi – Commander of RDF Special Forces.
- Maj. Gen. Eugene Nkubito – Commander of the RDF 3rd Division.
- Brig. Gen. Pascal Muhizi – Commander of the RDF 2nd Division.
Sanctioned Mining Executive and Gold Refinery
The EU has taken action against a key figure accused of profiting from conflict minerals in the DRC:
- Francis Kamanzi (alias Erasto) – Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), sanctioned for his role in exploiting the armed conflict through the illicit trade of natural resources.
- Gasabo Gold Refinery – A Kigali-based company accused of illegally importing gold from M23-controlled territories in eastern DRC.
These latest measures bring the total number of individuals sanctioned under the EU’s DRC-related autonomous restrictive measures to 32, along with two entities. The sanctions reflect the EU’s commitment to curbing the exploitation of natural resources that fuels conflict and instability in the region.
