Democratic Republic Of Congo
The United States issued sanctions on Monday targeting four military and militia leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo for engaging in “destabilizing activity” that has prolonged the conflict in that country, the U.S. Treasury Department said.
Those sanctioned included Muhindo Akili Mundos, a general in the armed forces accused of a brutal crackdown on civilians in his sector. Senior rebels from three different militant groups also were sanctioned: Gedeon Kyungu Mutanga, Guidon Shimiray Mwissa and Lucien Nzabamwita, the Treasury said in a statement.
The U.S. action came days after the U.N. Security Council blacklisted the men for “planning, directing, or committing acts in the DRC that constitute human rights violations or abuses or violations of international humanitarian law.”
Kabila ready to handover power, set to name successor in July https://t.co/zSgXPVzMZC
— africanews (@africanews) February 5, 2018
A series of opposition protests have been clamped down by the police. The most recent being a peaceful march by the Catholic Church. Police fired tear gas as protesters holding green leaves and arrested a number of priests and portesters. Congo is Africa’s largest copper producer but ranks very low on the U.N. Human Development Index. Congo has not experienced a peaceful transition of power since independence in 1960. Dozens have been killed in anti-Kabila demonstrations in the capital, Kinshasa and other parts of the country.
REUTERS
01:00
'Good Trouble’ rallies across US push back on Trump agenda
Go to video
White House confirms Trump diagnosed with common vascular condition
00:50
Cameroon: Biya reshuffles top military ranks days after re-election bid
01:24
U.S. deports 95 Haitians amid policy shift as repatriates face uncertain future
01:00
Giant mural in France critiques Trump's immigration policies
01:17
Trump downplays US State Department's failure to release more Epstein files