[{"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__297602__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"297602","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/297602","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__297602__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__297602__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__297602__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\u003EOne week before the end of President Joseph Kabila\u2019s constitutionally mandated two-term limit on December 19, the United States and European Union have announced targeted sanctions against top officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe sanctions \u2013 which include travel bans and assets freezes \u2013 send an unequivocal message that those responsible for planning, ordering, or executing violent repression will face consequences \u2013 no matter their rank or position.\u00a0\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\/30438\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-congo-africa-kalev-mutond.jpg?itok=aQpxF3-D 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2016\/2016-12-drc-congo-africa-kalev-mutond.jpg?itok=baRrEW6p 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\/2016-12-drc-congo-africa-kalev-mutond.jpg?itok=baRrEW6p\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022533\u0022 alt=\u0022Kalev Mutond, Director of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, sits to the right of First Lady Marie Olive Lembe and President Joseph Kabila during the country\u2019s independence anniversary celebration in Kindu, capital\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\u003EKalev Mutond (second from left), Director of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, appears with First Lady Marie Olive Lembe and President Joseph Kabila during the country\u2019s independence anniversary celebration in Kindu, capital of Maniema province, June 30, 2016. Mutond\u00a0was one of eight officials sanctioned by the EU for \u201cplanning, directing, or committing\u201d serious human rights violations.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Reuters\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\u003EIn a move many across Congo had been waiting for, the US went higher up the chain of command than the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/09\/28\/dr-congo-us-imposes-sanctions-2-officials\u0022\u003Esanctions\u003C\/a\u003E announced in June and September, targeting Kalev Mutondo, director of the country\u2019s National Intelligence Agency, and Evariste Boshab, vice prime minister and interior minister. Mutondo and Boshab have been the architects of much of the repression of pro-democracy activists, the political opposition, peaceful protesters, and the media over the past two years, as Kabila sought to hold on to power beyond his term limit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe US Treasury Department said in a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.treasury.gov\/press-center\/press-releases\/Pages\/jl0682.aspx\u0022\u003Estatement\u003C\/a\u003E that the Congolese government \u201ccontinues to suppress political opposition and delay political progress in the country, often through violent means,\u201d and that Mutondo and Boshab were named for \u201cengaging in actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions\u201d in Congo.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EEarlier today, the EU\u2019s Foreign Affairs Council \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/press\/press-releases\/2016\/12\/12-drc-sanctions\/\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E targeted sanctions against \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/?uri=uriserv:OJ.LI.2016.336.01.0001.01.ENG\u0026amp;\u0026amp;toc=OJ:L:2016:336I:TOC\u0022\u003Eseven\u003C\/a\u003E senior security officials. According to the EU, the following four individuals \u201ccontributed to acts constituting serious violations of human rights in the DRC, by planning, directing or carrying out those acts\u201d: Ilunga Kampete, commander of the Republican Guard; Gabriel Amisi Kumba, commander for the western region of the Congolese army; Ferdinand Ilunga Luyolo, commander of the anti-riot body L\u00e9gion Nationale d\u0027Intervention of the Congolese National Police; and Celestin Kanyama, Kinshasa police commissioner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe EU imposed sanctions on three other senior figures for \u201ctrying to obstruct a consensual and peaceful solution to the crisis as regards the holding of elections in the DRC, in particular through acts of violence, repression or incitement to violence, or actions that undermine the rule of law\u201d: John Numbi, former inspector-general of the Congolese National Police; Roger Kibelisa, interior director of the National Intelligence Agency; and Delphin Kahimbi, director of military intelligence.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe strong action by the US and EU signals grave concern about the direction Congo is heading, and the real risk the country could descend into large-scale violence in the coming weeks.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EOn December 1, the European Parliament urged the EU to adopt targeted sanctions against senior government and security forces after the EU had \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/press\/press-releases\/2016\/10\/17-fac-drc-conclusions\/?utm_source=dsms-auto\u0026amp;\u0026amp;\u0026amp;\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;\u0026amp;\u0026amp;\u0026amp;utm_campaign=Council+conclusions+on+the+Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E in October 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 On December 9, 72 Congolese and 15 international human rights organizations \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis\u0022\u003Eissued\u003C\/a\u003E a statement, calling on the US and the EU to expand targeted sanctions.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EKabila and other senior officials should now take steps to end repressive measures, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis\u0022\u003Eallowing peaceful protests\u003C\/a\u003E and ordering security forces not to use \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis\u0022\u003Eexcessive force\u003C\/a\u003E, by releasing \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/11\/16\/dr-congo-political-prisoners-detention\u0022\u003Epolitical prisoners\u003C\/a\u003E and dropping unjust charges against political leaders and pro-democracy activists, and by opening \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis\u0022\u003Ebarred media outlets\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EMost critical is that Kabila make a public commitment to respect the constitution and announce he will step down from office.\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}]