The European Union (EU) recently published a list of individuals sanctioned for their human rights violations and their involvement in maintaining armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This list includes several key figures, including Apollinaire Hakizimana, Bernard Byamungu and Michel Rukunda.
Apollinaire Hakizimana, also known as “the poet”, is a military leader of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda-Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FDLR-FOCA) operating in eastern DRC. The FDLR-FOCA are known to fuel armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the region, committing serious human rights violations, including forced recruitment, killings of civilians and sexual violence in the region. against children. Due to his leadership role within FDLR-FOCA, Apollinaire Hakizimana is considered to be involved in the planning and commission of these violations.
For his part, Bernard Byamungu is a high-ranking member of the M23/Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC) terrorist movement. As brigadier general and deputy commander of operations, he is accused of being responsible for human rights violations, including attacks against civilians and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and murders. The M23 is known for maintaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC. The EU sanctions thus aim to hold Bernard Byamungu and his accomplices accountable for their actions.
Finally, Michel Rukunda, alias Makanika, is a former FARDC colonel and the military leader of the Twirwaneho armed group. This group operates in South Kivu province and claims to represent the Banyamulenge community. Twirwaneho is also implicated in serious human rights violations, including the recruitment of child soldiers and attacks against civilians and the FARDC. Michel Rukunda was directly involved in the military training of recruits and the use of children in armed activities.
These EU-sanctioned individuals are subject to restrictive measures, including a travel ban and an asset freeze. This initiative aims to highlight individual responsibilities in human rights violations and armed conflicts in the DRC, and to exert international pressure to put an end to these practices.
It is important to emphasize that sanctioning these individuals is only part of the effort needed to resolve the complex problems of the DRC. International cooperation, the engagement of local and regional actors, as well as durable political solutions will be necessary to achieve long-term stability and security in the country