U.S. slaps sanctions on DRC official for role in violence

The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on an official in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for his role in police violence against civilians.

The designated DRC official, General Celestin Kanyama, is the Congolese National Police provincial police commissioner for Kinshasa, the country's capital.

"Under his leadership, police forces engaged in the targeting of civilian protestors through acts of violence," the Treasury Department said in a statement.

As a result of the designation, all Kanyama's assets that are based in the United States or in the control of U.S. persons are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him.

"As (DRC) President (Joseph) Kabila's constitutionally limited term nears its end in December, the regime has engaged in a pattern of repression, including the arrest of opposition members and violent suppression of political protests, all to avoid scheduling national elections," said John Smith, Acting Director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

"Treasury's action today sends a clear message that the United States condemns the regime's violence and repressive actions," Smith added.

The Treasury Department emphasized that Thursday's action is not directed at the people of the DRC, saying that "it is intended to alter the behavior of individuals involved in violence against civilians."

In January last year, during Kanyama's tenure as Kinshasa police commissioner, over 40 people were killed during demonstrations in Kinshasa, including at least 20 people fatally shot by security forces, according to the Treasury Department. Enditem