Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2397 of 8 December 2022 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date: 2022-12-08
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Democratic Republic of the Congo, EU restrictive measure, economic sanctions, international sanctions, natural person








LI2022316EN.01000101.xml










8.12.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


LI 316/1








            COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2022/2397
of 8 December 2022
         
implementing Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 of 18 July 2005 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:







(1)


On 18 July 2005, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005.












(2)


Further to an evaluation of the relevant circumstances and in view of the gravity of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council considers that eight persons should be added to the list of persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex Ia to Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005.












(3)


Annex Ia to Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1
Annex Ia to Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.


Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.





This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 8 December 2022.


For the Council


The President

V. RAKUŠAN
            





(1)  
            OJ L 193, 23.7.2005, p. 1.




ANNEX
The following persons are added to the list set out in Section A (‘Persons’) of Annex Ia to Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005:






 


Persons










 


Name


Identifying information


Grounds for listing


Date of listing




‘10


Ruvugayimikore PROTOGÈNE


a.k.a. Ruhinda; Gaby Ruhinda; Zorro Midende
DOB: 1968 or 1969
Gender: Male
Function or profession: Leader of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda - Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FDLR-FOCA); Leader of the Maccabé group (formerly Commando de recherche et d'action en profondeur (CRAP)) of the FDLR-FOCA


Ruvugayimikore Protogène is a leader of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda - Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FDLR-FOCA), a non-governmental armed group operating in the Eastern DRC. He leads, in particular, the Maccabé group (formerly known as the Commando de recherche et d'action en profondeur (CRAP)) of the FDLR-FOCA.
The FDLR-FOCA, including the Maccabé group, contributes to the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through violence and serious human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians, killings, violence against children, rapes and other acts of sexual violence.
Owing to his leading position in the FDLR-FOCA, Ruvugayimikore Protogène is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.


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11


Meddie NKALUBO


a.k.a. Mohammed Ali Nkalubo; Abul Jihad; Punny Boy
DOB: 1991, 1992 or 1993
Nationality: Uganda
Gender: Male
Function or profession: Senior Allied Democratic Forces leader


Meddie Nkalubo is a senior leader of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a non-governmental armed group operating in Uganda and the Eastern DRC. He has been identified as holding various responsibilities in the ADF, including communication and propaganda, recruitment, fabrication of arms, and rapprochement with ISIL (Da’esh).
The ADF contributes to the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC (particularly in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces), in particular through violence and serious human rights abuses, including attacks against civilians, killings and abduction.
Owing to his senior leading position and various responsibilities in the ADF, Meddie Nkalubo is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.


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12


Justin BITAKWIRA


a.k.a. Bihona-Hayi
DOB: 5.12.1960
POB: Lemera, DRC
Nationality: DRC
Gender: Male
Function or profession: Politician, former National Minister and President of the Alliance for the Republic and National Consciousness


Justin Bitakwira is a Congolese politician, former government Minister and member of the political party “Union for the Congolese Nation”.
In his public speeches, he has repeatedly incited violence and encouraged discrimination and hostility towards the Banyamulenge community, which has been targeted and attacked by armed groups.
Those inflammatory speeches and narratives contribute to fuelling the conflict and violence in the DRC, in particular in the Hauts-Plateaux region characterised by inter-communal conflicts.
Justin Bitakwira is therefore responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, through inciting violence.


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13


Joseph Nganzo Olikwa TIPI


a.k.a. Colonel Tipi Ziro Ziro, Joseph Ngadjole, Joseph Nganzole Olikwa
DOB: 10.11.1977
POB: Bunia Fataki, DRC
Nationality: DRC
Gender: Male
Rank: Colonel of the FARDC
Position: Deputy Commander of the 12th Rapid Reaction Brigade in Minembwe, former Commander of the 312th battalion of the 31st Main Defence Brigade
Military ID: 1-77-96-32692-76


Joseph Nganzo Olikwa Tipi was Commander of the 312th battalion of the 31st Main Defence Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) until January 2022.
Forces of the 312th battalion under his command and responsibility have committed attacks on civilians and serious human rights violations, in particular rapes of women between June and December 2021.
Joseph Nganzo Olikwa Tipi remains a high-ranking officer in the FARDC, as Colonel and Deputy Commander of the 12th Rapid Reaction Brigade in Minembwe (South Kivu).
Owing to his functions, he bears responsibility for recent human rights violations committed by the FARDC.
Joseph Nganzo Olikwa Tipi is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC.


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14


Désiré LONDROMA NDJUKPA


a.k.a. Désiré Lokana Lokanza
Gender: Male
Function or profession: CODECO URDPC Defence Officer (‘charge of defence’)


Désiré Londroma Ndjukpa is a leader of the Cooperative for Development of the Congo / Union of Revolutionaries for the Defence of the Congolese People (CODECO URDPC), identified as its defence officer (‘charge of defence’), and co-leader of its political wing.
The CODECO URDPC is a non-governmental armed group operating in the Eastern DRC and contributing to the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through violence and serious human rights abuses, including killings, sexual violence and attacks on civilians such as attacks on internally displaced persons camps between mid-November 2021 and February 2022, targeting in particular the Hema community.
Owing to his leading position in the CODECO URDPC, Londroma Ndjukpa is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.


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15


Willy NGOMA


a.k.a. Major Willy Ngoma
Gender: Male
Function or profession: Spokesperson of the March 23 Movement / Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC)


Willy Ngoma holds the leading position of spokesperson of the March 23 Movement / Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC), a non-governmental armed group operating in the Eastern DRC.
The M23/ARC contributes to the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through violence and serious human rights abuses, including killings, attacks and sexual violence against civilians.
Owing to his leading position in the M23/ARC, Willy Ngoma is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.


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16


William YAKUTUMBA


DOB: 1970
POB: Lunbondia, South-Kivu, DRC
Nationality: DRC
Gender: Male
Function or profession: leader of the Coalition Nationale du Peuple pour la Souverainité du Congo (CNPSC); founder and leader of the Mai-Mai Yakutumba militia


William Yakutumba is the Secretary-General and Commander of the Coalition Nationale du Peuple pour la Souverainité du Congo (CNPSC), a coalition of the so-called Mai-Mai militias in South Kivu province of the DRC. He is the founder and leader of one of the largest militias of that coalition, the Mai-Mai Yakutumba.
The Mai-Mai Yakutumba contributes to the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through violence and serious human rights abuses, including massacres of village populations, attacks on civilians, rapes and other acts of sexual violence.
The Mai-Mai Yakutumba also controls gold mines in the Eastern DRC, together with CNPSC members who control the mining routes. They profit from the illicit exploitation of and trade in gold. The Mai-Mai Yakutumba uses profits gained through that trade to finance its armed activities.
Owing to his leading position in the CNPSC and in the Mai-Mai Yakutumba militia, William Yakutumba is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining and exploiting the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, including through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources.


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17


Alain François Viviane GOETZ


DOB: 24.4.1965
POB: Deurne, Antwerp, Belgium
Nationality: Belgian
Gender: Male


Alain Goetz is a businessman, who is the beneficial owner and former director of African Gold Refinery Ltd, registered in Uganda.
Since 2016, African Gold Refinery Ltd has received, purchased, refined and traded illicit gold originating from mines in the DRC that are controlled by non-governmental armed groups, including the Mai-Mai Yakutumba and Raia Mutomboki, which are involved in destabilising activities in South Kivu province.
Alain Goetz is therefore exploiting the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources.


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