Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2905 concerning restrictive measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

New Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2905 concerning restrictive measures in light of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was published in the Official Journal (OJ) of the EU. The Implementing Regulation modifies an existing sanction regulation in this context, namely Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005, to add two and remove two individuals listed in the sanctions list contained in Annex I of the 2005 Regulation. The affected individuals are the following; their records are cited from the Regulation:
#### Added persons
Entry # 37 – Bernard Maheshe BYAMUNGU
(alias: Tiger One)
– Designation: a) Brigadier General b) Deputy Commander of operations and intelligence for M23.
– Date of birth: 10 October 1974.
– Place of birth: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
– Nationality: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
– Address: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
– Date of UN designation: 25 October 2023.
– Other information: Listed pursuant to paragraphs 7(c) and 7(h) of resolution 2293 (2016) as “being political and military leaders of Congolese militias, including those receiving support from outside the DRC, who impede the participation of their combatants in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes” and “acting on behalf of or at the direction of a designated individual or entity, or acting on behalf of or at the direction of an entity owned or controlled by a designated individual or entity”, as reaffirmed by paragraph 2 of resolution 2688 (2023). As a leader of M23, he is involved in promulgating and supporting the armed group’s activities. He was promoted in January 2023 to Brigadier for the Congolese Revolutionary Army, the M23 armed branch. He was then appointed chief of staff and deputy to Sultani Makenga, and has validated the planning for every M23 operation in DRC since then. A warrant has been issued by Congolese authorities for his arrest.
Entry # 38 – Ruvugayimikore PROTOGÈNE
(alias: a) Ruhinda b) Gaby Ruhinda c) Zorro Midende d) Gatokarakura)
– Designation: Commander of the FDLR special unit, “Commando de recherche et d’action en profondeur”, (“CRAP”), now called Maccabe.
– Date of birth: a) 1968 b) 1969 c) 1970.
– Place of birth: a) Karandaryi Cell, Mwiyanike Sector, Karago Commune, Gisenyi Prefecture, Rwanda b) Nyabihu District, Western Province, Rwanda.
– Address: Nyiragongo, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
– Date of UN designation: 25 October 2023.
– Other information: Listed pursuant to paragraphs 7(b), 7(e), and 7(h) of resolution 2293 (2016) as “being political and military leaders of foreign armed groups operating in the DRC who impede the disarmament and the voluntary repatriation or resettlement of combatants belonging to those groups”; “planning, directing, or committing acts in the DRC that constitute human rights violations or abuses or violations of international humanitarian law, as applicable, including those acts involving the targeting of civilians, including killing and maiming, rape and other sexual violence, abduction, forced displacement, and attacks on schools and hospitals”; and “acting on behalf of or at the direction of a designated individual or entity, or acting on behalf of or at the direction of an entity owned or controlled by a designated individual or entity”, as reaffirmed by paragraph 2 of resolution 2688 (2023). As a leader of FDLR, he has effective command and control over that group’s combatants.’
#### Removed persons
Entry # 10 – Ruvugayimikore PROTOGÈNE
Entry # 18 – Bernard Maheshe BYAMUNGU