At the recent meeting of the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee, six individuals were added to the list of those sanctioned for their human rights violations and abuses of international humanitarian law. Among them, members of the M23, the Twirwaneho group, the FDLR and the ADF were identified as having committed reprehensible acts such as attacks against civilians, murders, rapes, kidnappings and attacks against infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.
Willy Ngoma, the military spokesperson for the M23, is one of these sanctioned individuals, thus tarnishing the image of the movement which is still seeking to initiate a direct dialogue with the authorities in Kinshasa. Michel Rukunda, alias Makanika, commander of the Twirwaneho group, is also targeted by sanctions for his bellicose actions in South Kivu, notably collaborating with the M23.
Apollinaire Hakizimana, commander of the FDLR, and two ADF leaders, Ahmad Mahmood Hassan and Mohamed Ali Nkalubo, were also sanctioned for the threats they posed to the security of local populations. Finally, William Amuri Yakutumba, leader of the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC), completes the list of individuals placed under sanctions.
These decisions come against a backdrop of growing tensions in eastern DRC, highlighting the need to strengthen international actions to guarantee the protection of civilian populations and regional stability.