Janet Yellen Secretary of the Treasury | Twitter Website
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on the Congo River Alliance, known by its French name Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a coalition of rebel groups aiming to overthrow the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The AFC is identified as a significant driver of political instability, violent conflict, and civilian displacement in the region. The primary member of AFC is the March 23 Movement (M23), an armed group with a history of destabilizing North Kivu province and committing human rights abuses.
OFAC's sanctions extend to individuals and entities associated with AFC, including Bertrand Bisimwa, president of M23; Twirwaneho, an armed group affiliated with AFC in South Kivu province; and Charles Sematama, a commander and deputy military leader of Twirwaneho.
“Today’s action reinforces our commitment to hold accountable those who seek to perpetuate instability, violence, and harm to civilians to achieve their political goals,” stated Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “We condemn AFC and its affiliates, including M23, for fueling this deadly conflict and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC.”
Corneille Yobeluo Nangaa, former president of the DRC’s National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), has also been redesignated by OFAC. Nangaa launched AFC alongside M23 leaders and was originally sanctioned by OFAC in 2019 for actions undermining democratic processes in the DRC.
The Congo River Alliance was formed on December 15, 2023, inviting armed groups and members of the Congolese military to join its rebellion. The alliance conducts advocacy on behalf of M23 and aims to extend its insurgency beyond eastern DRC.
M23 reemerged in late 2021 with support from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). In early 2024, M23 disrupted supply routes to Goma and seized Rubaya. This resurgence has displaced approximately 1.5 million people according to the International Organization for Migration. Over its course of rebellion, M23 has committed numerous human rights abuses including killings and sexual violence.
Bertrand Bisimwa plays a key role within both AFC and M23 by engaging in public outreach and facilitating rebel administrations in territories controlled by M23.
Twirwaneho extends AFC’s influence into South Kivu province under Michel Rukunda's leadership. Rukunda was sanctioned by OFAC along with other Congolese armed group leaders in December 2023. Twirwaneho is responsible for attacks against civilians and forced recruitment including minors.
Charles Sematama leads Twirwaneho operations after deserting from the Congolese military in February 2021. He is involved in forcible recruitment efforts among minors.
As a result of these sanctions, all property interests belonging to designated persons within U.S jurisdiction are blocked. Transactions involving these properties are generally prohibited unless authorized by OFAC or exempted by law.
OFAC emphasizes that while it can designate individuals or entities on its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, it also aims to remove persons from this list if they demonstrate compliance with relevant laws.
Further details about today's designations can be found through OFAC's official channels.
