Today, the Council imposed restrictive measures on nine individuals and one entity responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC and exploiting the armed conflict through the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources.

These restrictive measures have been adopted in view of the escalation of the conflict in eastern DRC related to the renewed offensive of the March 23 Movement(M23) / Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) supported by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).

The EU has listed fivesenior leaders of the M23, a UN sanctioned non-governmental armed group operating in Eastern DRC, which sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through inciting violence, and is responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses. The M23 related listings include: the movement’s president Bertrand Bisimwa, the head of recruitment and propaganda Désiré Rukomera, colonel John Imani Nzenze, the deputy chief of finances and production of M23/ARC Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi, and Joseph Musanga Bahati, who was appointed governor of North Kivu within the new illegal “administration” imposed by the M23 in violation of Congolese sovereignty.

Today's listings also include the commander of the Special forces of the RDF Ruki Karusisi, RDF major general and commander of the 3rd division Eugene Nkubito, and RDF brigadier general and commander of the 2nd division Pascal Muhizi. Due to their roles in the RDF, they are responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.

Lastly, the EU listed Francis Kamanzi a.k.a Erasto, chief executive officer of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) who, due to his leading position in the RMB, is responsible for exploiting the armed conflict through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources - in this case conflict minerals. The EU also listed Gasabo Gold Refinery, based in Kigali and responsible for illegally importing gold from M23-controlled regions in the DRC, thus also exploiting the armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC.

Altogether, EU autonomous restrictive measures in view of the situation in the DRC now apply to a total of 32 individuals and 2 entities. Those designated are subject to a travel ban and an asset freeze. Furthermore, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

EU autonomous individual restrictive measures in view of the situation in the DRC were adopted by the Council for the first time in 2016 in response to serious human rights violations and the obstruction of the electoral process.

On 5 December 2022, the Council decided to amend the designation criteria to allow for the application of individual restrictive measures against natural or legal persons, entities or bodies that sustain, support or benefit from the armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC, as well as those responsible for inciting violence, or exploiting the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, including through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources.

On 25 January 2025, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the EU expressing its deep concern at the latest escalation of the conflict in eastern DRC, aggravated by the renewed offensive of the M23 armed group supported by the RDF, and the consequent undermining of African-led efforts to reach a peaceful resolution. In the statement, the EU stressed it would consider all the tools at its disposal in order to hold accountable those responsible for sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.

The 34 EU autonomous listings complement the current 53 UN listings adopted in view of the situation in the DRC.