EBN-As EU foreign ministers agreed on a sanctions list targeting Rwandan military officers and members of the M23 rebel movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Rwanda supports, Rwanda and Belgium suspend diplomatic ties on Monday.
The European edition of Politico magazine reported that relations between the two countries have witnessed increasing tensions as the M23 rebels advanced in the resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, seizing control of the major cities of Goma and Bukavu, displacing thousands.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo government has announced that the fighting has killed 7,000 people so far. At a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, the European Union approved sanctions on leading figures in the Rwandan Defense Forces and the M23 movement, accused of illegally smuggling natural resources from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In an official statement, the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Belgium and ordered Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.
The European Union imposes sanctions on nine individuals and one entity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The European Union Council on Monday imposed restrictive measures on nine additional individuals and one entity for committing serious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as for supporting armed conflict, instability, and insecurity in the country, and exploiting the situation through illicit trafficking in natural resources. The European Union took these restrictive measures in light of the escalation of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a result of the renewed offensive by the M23 and the Congo River Alliance, supported by the Rwandan Defense Forces, according to a statement from the European Union Council.
The sanctions list includes five prominent leaders of M23 movement a UN sanctioned non-state armed group operating in eastern DRC, where it contributes to the ongoing conflict and instability by inciting violence and committing gross human rights abuses. The individuals designated are Bertrand Bisimwa, the movement’s president; Desiree Rukomera, its head of recruitment and propaganda; Colonel John Imani Nzenzi; Jean Bosco Nzabonimpa Mubenzi; and Joseph Musanga Bahati, the illegally appointed governor of North Kivu province, in violation of DRC sovereignty.
The list also included senior RDF commanders, considered responsible for the continuing conflict and instability in the DRC. They include Rocky Karusisi, commander of the Special Forces; Major General Eugene Nkwebito, commander of the 3rd Division; and Brigadier General Pascal Muhezi, commander of the 3rd Division of the RDF.
The European Union also imposed sanctions on Francis Kamanzi, known as Erasto, CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Oil and Gas Board, for his role in exploiting the conflict through the illicit trafficking of natural resources, particularly minerals from conflict zones.
The sanctions included the Kigali-based Gasabo Gold Refinery, which illegally imports gold from areas under the control of the March 23 Alliance, making it a party to exploiting conflict and instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
With these additions, the total number of individuals and entities subject to EU restrictive measures due to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo now stands at 32 individuals and two entities.
Sanctions on these designated individuals include travel bans, asset freezes, and a ban on EU citizens and companies from providing them with any funds
