The European Union is preparing to sanction nine individuals linked to violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), two EU diplomats confirmed on Friday. While the names of those targeted have not been disclosed, EU foreign ministers are expected to approve the sanctions at a meeting in Brussels on Monday.
The decision comes amid a surge in conflict in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group has captured the region’s two largest cities since January. The ongoing violence is rooted in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control over Congo’s vast mineral wealth.
Congo’s government is currently weighing whether to participate in peace talks with M23 rebels, which Angola plans to host next week, government sources revealed on Thursday. However, tensions remain high, with the Congolese government accusing Rwanda of backing the Tutsi-led rebel group—an allegation Rwanda has repeatedly denied.
Last month, the EU summoned Rwanda’s ambassador, urging the country to “immediately withdraw” its troops from Congolese territory and to halt any support for M23 and other armed groups. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has also warned that the 27-nation bloc is reviewing its critical raw materials agreement with Rwanda due to its alleged involvement in the conflict.
The humanitarian toll of the fighting has been severe. The Congolese government reports that at least 7,000 people have died since January, while the United Nations estimates that more than 600,000 people have been displaced since November.
As the EU moves to impose sanctions, international pressure is mounting for a resolution to the conflict, but the prospects for peace remain uncertain.
