[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"core\/picturefill,entity_embed\/caption,views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296885__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"296885","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/296885","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296885__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_reI-6YIYy-k9pvxm-gaCRrn5cSrTZRtyAMrp4YXDUJw.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_VkK39bvB4H6LLVemwPFz8QWcUMTFqZ3FFo_LBVv_4vs.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296885__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296885__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ELess than one month before the December 19 deadline marking the end of President Joseph Kabila\u2019s constitutionally mandated two-term limit, he still has not made any clear commitment on if and when he will step down. All while government repression against pro-democracy \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/295951\u0022\u003Eactivists\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/296770\u0022\u003Eopposition\u003C\/a\u003E, protesters, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/296717\u0022\u003Emedia\u003C\/a\u003E has intensified at an alarming rate. The so-called \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis\u0022\u003Enational dialogue\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d \u2013 which postponed the elections to at least April 2018 \u2013 and the appointment of Samy Badibanga from the opposition as prime minister have not succeeded in easing tensions. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis\u0022\u003ECatholic Church\u003C\/a\u003E is pursuing its mediation efforts to reach a more inclusive political deal \u2013 but time is running out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30284\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-11-drc-africa-congo-sanctions-kanyama-amisi-boshab.jpg?itok=XBoOdqqe 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-11-drc-africa-congo-sanctions-kanyama-amisi-boshab.jpg?itok=tuQ0FM4z 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-11-drc-africa-congo-sanctions-kanyama-amisi-boshab.jpg?itok=tuQ0FM4z\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022284\u0022 alt=\u0022From left to right: Gen. C\u00e9l\u00e9stin Kanyama \u00a9 2013 Private; Gen. Gabriel Amisi \u00a9 2016 Private; \u00c9variste Boshab \u00a9 2015 Radio Okapi\/Ph. John Bompengo.\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EFrom left to right:\u00a0Gen. C\u00e9l\u00e9stin Kanyama \u00a9 2013 Private;\u00a0Gen. Gabriel Amisi \u00a9 2016 Private;\u00a0\u00c9variste Boshab \u00a9 2015 Radio Okapi\/Ph. John Bompengo.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EIf President Kabila stays in power beyond December 19 without a clear public commitment on when he will step down and a broad consensus on organizing the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis\u0022\u003Etransition period\u003C\/a\u003E to elections, there is a risk that protests will erupt and security forces respond with excessive force. The country could descend into widespread violence and chaos.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003ECongo\u2019s regional and international partners should be mobilizing at the highest levels to prevent this scenario. They should apply targeted sanctions against officials implicated in abuses to show there are real consequences for repression and to help deter further violence.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/09\/28\/dr-congo-us-imposes-sanctions-2-officials\u0022\u003Etargeted sanctions\u003C\/a\u003E imposed by the US on several officials at the forefront of violence against protesters had a notable deterrent effect and rattled those implicated. But the impact could be much greater if they targeted more senior government and intelligence officials \u2013 and if the European Union and United Nations Security Council also took action.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EIn October, the EU \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/press\/press-releases\/2016\/10\/17-fac-drc-conclusions\/?utm_source=dsms-auto\u0026amp;\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;\u0026amp;utm_campaign=Council+conclusions+on+the+Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E it would \u201cuse all means at its disposal\u201d against individuals responsible for serious human rights violations, who promote violence, or who \u201cobstruct a consensual and peaceful solution to the crisis.\u201d The EU should move now from threats to action and impose targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against senior Congolese officials responsible for the violent crackdown.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EIn a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/114th-congress\/house-resolution\/780\/text\u0022\u003Eresolution\u003C\/a\u003E passed on November 15 with strong bipartisan support, the US House of Representatives called on the Obama administration to impose additional sanctions on officials in Congo \u201cwho impede progress toward a peaceful democratic transition through credible elections that respect the will of the people.\u201d In a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/11\/21\/letter-president-obama-regarding-his-human-rights-legacy\u0022\u003Eletter\u003C\/a\u003E on Monday, Human Rights Watch also called upon President Barack Obama to take this step before leaving office.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EOur \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/10\/13\/eu-impose-targeted-sanctions-against-senior-officials-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003Eresearch\u003C\/a\u003E has found that these people played critical roles in the repression, and should be targeted for sanctions: National Intelligence Agency (ANR) Director Kalev Mutond, Vice Prime Minister and Interior Minister Evariste Boshab, Republican Guard overall commander Gen. Ilunga Kampete, western region army commander Gen. Gabriel Amisi (known as \u201cTango Four\u201d), and Kinshasa police commissioner Gen. C\u00e9l\u00e9stin Kanyama.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe EU, the United States, and the UN should make clear to Kabila that violating the Congolese people\u2019s rights comes at a high price \u2013 before there is more bloodshed and it is too late to change course.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]