The US recently announced that it will continue the national emergency concerning the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) for an additional year. According to a White House Notice released on October 24, 2023, the DRC continues to experience widespread violence and atrocities that will pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to US foreign policy beyond October 27, 2023, the date when the national emergency was set to expire.
On October 25, 2023, the United Nations Security Council imposed additional sanctions pursuant to resolution 2293, its DRC-related sanctions regime. The UN designated Bernard Maheshe Byamungu and Protegène Ruvugayimikome for being political and military leaders of Congolese militias. According to the UN Security Council, Byamungu is the Brigadier for the Congolese Revolutionary Army, also known as M23, and Ruvagayimikome is a leader of the Forces Democratiques De Liberation Du Rwanda (“FDLR”), two groups that have been designated by the UN since 2012.
On October 26, 2023, the UK also designated Byamungu and Ruvugayimikome pursuant to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations.
White House Notice | UN Press Release | OFSI Financial Sanctions Notice