Financial sanctions, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, OFSI, of the HM Treasury has published a new Financial Sanctions Notice regarding sanctions measures with respect to persons and entities involved in or supportive of human rights violations, the obstruction of democracy, or violent conflicts in the Congo pursuant to Statutory Instrument SI 2019/433, the „Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019“. Specifically, the OFSI informs that it has modified its consolidated sanction list by adding two individuals to the list who are now subject to asset freezing measures.
#### The following persons have been added
BYAMUNGU, Bernard Maheshe
DOB: 10/10/1974. POB: Democratic Republic of the Congo Low quality a.k.a: TIGER ONE Nationality: Democratic Republic of the Congo Address: Democratic Republic of the Congo. Position: (1) Brigadier General (2) Deputy Commander of operations and intelligence for M23 Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref):DRC0064. (UN Ref):CDi. 038. Listed pursuant to paragraphs 7 (c) and 7 (h) of resolution 2293 (2016) as “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 (CDe.006), 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 (CDi.008), and has validated the planning for every M23 operations in DRC since then. A warrant has been issued by Congolese authorities for his arrest. Listed on: 26/10/2023 UK Sanctions List Date Designated: 26/10/2023 Last Updated: 26/10/2023 Group ID: 16180.
RUVUGAYIMIKORE, Protogène
DOB: (1) –/–/1968. (2) –/–/1969. (3) –/–/1970. POB: (1) Karandaryi Cell, Mwiyanike Sector, Karago Commune, Gisenyi Prefecture (2) Nyabihu District, Western Province, (1) Rwanda (2) Rwanda Good quality a.k.a: (1) GABY RUHINDA (2) RUHINDA (3) ZORRO MIDENDE Low quality a.k.a: GATOKARAKURA Nationality: Rwanda Address: Nyiragongo, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Position: Commander of the FDLR special unit “Commando de recherche et d’action en profondeur” (CRAP) (now called Maccabe) Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref):DRC0065. (UN Ref):CDi. 037. 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”; “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 (CDe.005), he has effective command and control over the group’s combatants. Listed on: 26/10/2023 UK Sanctions List Date Designated: 26/10/2023 Last Updated: 26/10/2023 Group ID: 16181.
The new consolidated Congo sanctions list may be accessed via this link.