The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) says it has favorably welcomed the taxation of new European Union (EU) sanctions against some Gwandian defense forces (DRF), economic entities and executives/members of the M23 rebellion. These measures impose a travel ban in the European Union as well as a freezing of the assets of these different personalities and entities in the Schengen area.
In a statement made public this Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the government notes that the last wave of sanctions in the European Union, as well as those recently announced by the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Canada against Rwanda, strengthen the conviction of the international community as to the direct responsibility of the Rwandan government in the degradation of the security situation in the East of the DRC.
“Indeed, Rwandan troops deliberately violated the territorial integrity of the DRC and its sovereignty. They are responsible for the death of more than 8,500 civilians and other war crimes, crimes against humanity, in particular attacks on hospitals, children’s kidnapping, summary execution and sexual violence”, informs the government press release.
The Government of the DRC welcomes the sanctions imposed by the EU on the Rwandan Office of Mines, Oil and Gas, and at the Gasabo gold refinery. These sanctions constitute the first step in the fight against the looting of the mining wealth of the DRC by Rwanda.
“The government of the DRC will continue to work with the international community so that it sets an embargo on minerals illegally extracted in the DRC and exported by Rwanda, that it suspended the contribution of Rwanda to the United Nations peacekeeping forces and that it imposes greater transparency on the transfers of weapons to Rwanda in order to obtain the immediate and without conditions of its Congol Troops. Democratic of the Congo remains resolutely engaged in the current diplomatic processes in order to achieve a sustainable and peaceful settlement of the conflict that continues in the region, as recommends by resolution 2773 (2025) of the United Nations Security Council, “added the press release.
On Monday, March 17, the European Union announced the taxation of sanctions against several Rwandan military leaders and leaders of the Rebel M23 group, which operates in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the support of the Rwandan army.
These sanctions target Rwandan army officers in particular: Ruki Karusisi, commander of the Rwandan special forces deployed in the DRC, Eugène Nkubito and Pascal Muhizi. They also target Francis Kamanzi, Managing Director of the Rwandan Office for Mines, Oil and Gas (RMB), for his role in the illegal traffic of Congolese minerals.
In the same register, Gasabo Gold Refinery, a company specializing in gold refining has been penalized because it is suspected of refining and exporting gold extracted from the areas controlled by the rebels of the M23 in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As for the M23 rebellion, the European sanctions targeted Bertrand Bisimwa, the political wing of the armed group, who was already under sanctions in the United Nations. Jean Bahati Musanga, governor of North Kivu appointed after the fall of Goma by the rebels, as well as Désiré Rukomera, responsible for the recruitment and propaganda of the M23, and Jean-Bosco Nzabonma, deputy chief of finance of the group, are also concerned by these new measures of the European Union.
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