The United States Government announced yesterday that it has established sanctions once morest several high-ranking officials and African guerrilla leaders for human rights violations.
The sanctions were announced by US authorities on the occasion of yesterday’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Among the targets are Congolese militiamen, the son of the former President of the Central African Republic, François Bozize, the mayor of Monrovia (capital of Liberia), politicians and governors of South Sudanese states, whose assets in the United States will be blocked. Any organization that does business with these people may also be sanctioned by US authorities.
Jean-Francis Bozize, son of the former Central African President, “transferred weapons and ammunition from neighboring countries to the Central African Republic for the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), a rebel group that recruited child soldiers and committed sexual violence ”, according to the accusations brought by the United States.
The United States also targets three Congolese militia leaders: William Yakutumba, founder, military commander and political leader of the Mai-Mai Yakutumba militia and “involved in mass rape and other forms of sexual violence”; Willy Ngoma, spokesperson for the March 23 Movement (M23), one of the most important militias in North Kivu; and Michel Rukunda, leader of the Twirwaneho armed group, which recruits children from the age of 12.
The United States Government is also targeting Jefferson Koijee, mayor of Monrovia and senior official of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) political party, accused of “fueling violence through paramilitary organizations associated with the CDC that allegedly recruit former combatants and prisoners.”
Regarding South Sudan, the United States sanctioned politicians Gordon Koang Biel, Gatluak Nyang Hoth and Joseph Mantiel Wajang, the first two representatives in Mayendit and Koch counties, and the third is governor of Unity State.
“Between February and April 2022, government-aligned forces and allied militias under the command of Biel and Hoth were responsible for systematic rapes once morest women and girls during armed attacks in Leer County, Unity State,” said the North American government.
Finally, the United States sanctioned the Commissioner General of the Uganda Prison Service (UPS), Johnson Byabashaija.
UPS members, according to the US, “participated in torture and other serious human rights abuses of prisoners held in these prisons, whose occupants reported being beaten by their staff”.
