US Imposes Tough Sanctions on Kabila Generals

The US has imposed financial sanctions on a general and a former senior police officer in the Democratic Republic of Congo because of growing indications that the opposition is being suppressed, often violently, the US Treasury said in a statement.

Any financial assets that Maj-Gen Gabriel Amisi Kumba and ex-police officer John Numbi had in the US would be frozen, it added.

Maj-Gen Kumba had been targeted because units under command “reportedly have engaged in violent repression of political demonstrations”.

This included January 2015 protests in which at least 42 people were killed, the announcement said.

Mr Numbi, the former police inspector-general, used “violent intimidation” to secure victories for gubernatorial candidates allied with President Joseph Kabila in provincial elections in March 2016, it said.

While he is no longer in the police force, he “is reportedly an influential adviser” to Kabila, the statement added.

The constitution bars Kabila, who has been in power since 2001, to run for office again. The opposition suspects that he wants to delay the poll to remain in office.

The election commission says it is not in a position to meet the November deadline for elections as voter registration has not yet been completed in a country with poor infrastructure.

BBC