[AfricaWatch] Obama Expands Sanctions Authority on Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/BL-252B-4667

President Barack Obama issued an executive order Tuesday that expands the legal authority under which the U.S. can impose sanctions in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The new executive order amended a 2006order to conform more closely to sanctions criteria established by the United Nations Security Council, the White House said ina fact sheet. It allows for more U.S. flexibility when targeting people contributing to the conflict in the country, the fact sheet said.

According to the fact sheet, Washington can now impose sanctions in the Congolese conflict for conduct including:

• Actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
• Actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
• The targeting of women, children, or any civilians through the commission of acts of violence (including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual violence), abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law;
• The use or recruitment of children by armed groups or armed forces in the context of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
• The obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance;
• Attacks against United Nations missions, international security presences, or other peacekeeping operations;
• Support to persons, including armed groups, involved in activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through the illicit trade in natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Write to Samuel Rubenfeld at Samuel.Rubenfeld@wsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @srubenfeld.

Samuel Rubenfeld CONNECT

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