Council renews EU restrictive measures for a further year

The Council renewed its restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for an additional year, until 12 December 2025.

Altogether, the EU restrictive measures related to human rights violations, electoral obstruction and for sustaining the armed conflict, instability, and insecurity in the DRC now apply to 23 persons and one entity.

Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU member states.

The EU keeps developments in the DRC under constant review, and can decide to renew sanctions, and amend the list of targeted persons, entities and bodies based on developments on the ground.

Background

EU autonomous individual restrictive measures in view of the situation in the DRC were adopted by the Council for the first time in 2016 in response to serious human rights violations and the obstruction of the electoral process.

On 5 December 2022, the Council decided to amend the designation criteria to allow for the application of individual restrictive measures against natural or legal persons, entities or bodies that sustain, support or benefit from the armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC, as well as those responsible for inciting violence, or exploiting the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, including through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources.