Two top Congolese officials blacklisted by the United States

The United States government has on Wednesday blacklisted two Democratic Republic of Congo senior military officials close to President Joseph Kabila.

The U.S. Treasury says it has placed financial sanctions on the Chief of General Staff of the country, General Gabriel Amisi Kumba who is the commander of the armed forces and the General John Numbi, a former inspector of the National Police.

“These officials, current and former, of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo have engaged in actions that have undermined the democratic process in the DRC and suppressed political freedoms and rights of the Congolese people, potentially spreading instability in the country and more widely in the Great Lakes region,” the acting director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), John Smith, issued the sanctions.

This means their assets in the United States will be frozen and Americans are prohibited from making transactions with them.

The DRC government did not comment on the sanctions when questioned on Wednesday.

General Amisi who led the first defense zone which includes Kinshasa, is accused of commanding the army unit to prevent political demonstrations.

General John Numbi is also being accused by the U.S. of threatening to kill opposition candidates during the elections in March if they do not withdraw from the race.