Fearing an escalation of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between now and 19 December, when the second constitutional mandate of President Joseph Kabila, who is clinging on to power, comes to an end, the European foreign ministers were unanimous, in Brussels on Monday 12 December, in their decision to adopt targeted EU sanctions against seven individuals responsible for violence committed in September of this year (see EUROPE 11681), without waiting for 19 December.
The list of individuals subjected to restrictive measures with immediate effect - a freezing of assets and visa restrictions in the EU - was adopted by the Council along with a statement expressing the grave concerns of the EU and its 27 member states regarding the uncertainty surrounding the elections and the "risk and uncertainty after the recent crackdowns and violations of fundamental rights".
In so doing, the Council has followed through on the threats it made in May and October of this year. It has decided to target "seven individuals occupying positions of authority in the chain of command over the perpetrators of violence". The list of names was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The following are affected: the commander of the Republican Guard, Ilunga Kampete; the commander of the first defence zone of the Congolese army, Gabriel Amisi Kumba; the commander of an anti-riot unit, Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo; the commissioner of the national Congolese police, Celestin Kanyama; the former inspector general of the police, John Numbi; the head of the internal security department of the national intelligence agency, Roger Kibelisa; the head of the military intelligence service, Delphin Kaimbi.
The military figures are accused of having contributed to actions constituting serious violations of human rights in the repressive acts of 19 and 20 September of this year. The others stand accused of having stood in the way of a consensual and peaceful end to crisis with a view to the elections, for instance, through acts of violence, repression or incitement to violence or actions harming the rule of law.
The Council states that additional sanctions may follow in the event of any obstruction to the political process of further outbreaks of violence.
The EU hopes that these sanctions will have a deterrent effect and encourage President Kabila to arrange inclusive elections at the earliest opportunity. At the moment, although national dialogue is to resume with the participation of all players, in the framework of the mediation efforts of the Congolese Bishops' Conference, uncertainty subsists, as no date for these has as yet been set.
"The European Union and its member states are deeply concerned about the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With the 19 December deadline fast approaching, the European Union calls upon the Congolese people to show restraint and to promote dialogue by rejecting violence", the statement stresses.
"The Council needs to bring a bit of pressure to bear so that all players move in the same direction, that dialogue can be opened up and we can move towards elections as soon as possible", the Belgian minister, Didier Reynders, told the press upon his arrival at the Council. "I believe that a government that breaches the Constitution acts against its own people", said the Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn.
"Up to 19 December, we genuinely fear an escalation of violence. We have to avoid this violence at all costs and this will depend a lot on the decisions the sitting President may take in the next days, in other words respect for the Constitution, the commitment not to stand and to do everything in his power to hold new elections", observed the French minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who added: "I really hope with all of my heart that good sense will prevail, because 19 December is rapidly approaching". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)