U.S. steps up sanctions on Congo officials, Europe joins in

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on members of Joseph Kabila’s inner circle for the first time, a week before the Congolese president’s mandate expires, to try to force the government to agree a compromise with opposition leaders.

Earlier on Monday, the European Union imposed travel bans and asset freezes – its first – on seven security officials it says have violated human rights and helped disrupt elections.

International powers fear that Kabila’s refusal to leave power on Dec. 19, as required by the constitution, could lead to widespread violence after anti-government protests in September, in which about 50 people were killed by security forces.

“The Congolese government continues to undermine democratic processes in the DRC and repress the political rights and freedoms of the Congolese people,” Adam Szubin, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department, said in a statement.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) government was not immediately available for comment. It has previously denied Kabila is trying to violate the constitution.

The United States has already placed three Congolese generals on its sanctions list this year but Boshab and Mutondo are the highest-level targets yet.

Boshab, who oversees the police, was previously the secretary-general of Kabila’s ruling political party and Kalev is considered by rights groups to be the mastermind behind a crackdown over the past year on opposition and activist groups.