U.S. Treasury Amendments to Improve Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Regulations

​"The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is adopting a final rule amending the Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Regulations to implement Executive Order 13671 of July 8, 2014 (“Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”)"

​The U.S. Department of Treasury has just stepped up its support of Congolese peace and enforcement of Human Rights in DR Congo, amending its DRC Sanctions and Regulations and with respect to any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:

(A) to be a political or military leader of a foreign armed group operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament, demobilization, voluntary repatriation, resettlement, or reintegration of combatants;

(B) to be a political or military leader of a Congolese armed group that impedes the disarmament, demobilization, voluntary repatriation, resettlement, or reintegration of combatants;

(C) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, any of the following in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo:
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1. actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
2. actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
3. the targeting of women, children, or any civilians through the commission of acts of violence (including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual violence), abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law;
4. the use or recruitment of children by armed groups or armed forces in the context of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
5. the obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance;
6. attacks against United Nations missions, international security presences, or other peacekeeping operations; or
7. support to persons, including armed groups, involved in activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through the illicit trade in natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

#ImmorteLuc