Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sanctions regime

Overview

UN Sanctions

In response to hostilities in North and South Kivu, the UN established the UN Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Committee and imposed sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2003 by Resolution 1493 (2003), consisting of an arms embargo.  It subsequently expanded those sanctions to include asset freezes and travel bans.

In 2008, the UN narrowed the scope of the arms embargo to apply only to non-governmental entities via Resolution 1807 (2008).

EU Sanctions

The EU first imposed sanctions on Zaire (now the DRC) in 1993, consisting of an arms embargo against armed groups and travel bans against senior officials of the Mobuto regime in response to President Mobutu refusing to hand over power to a new government.

The EU implemented the UN arms embargo in 2003 and merged their existing sanctions with the UN sanctions regime, introducing targeted asset freezes and travel bans through Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 and Council Decision 2010/788/CFSP.

UK Sanctions

The UK implements UN sanctions via the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

US Sanctions

The US implements UN sanctions via EO 13413 and EO 13671.

Current UN Sanctions

In response to hostilities in North and South Kivu, the UN established the UN Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Committee and imposed sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2003 by Resolution 1493 (2003), consisting of an arms embargo.  It subsequently expanded those sanctions to include asset freezes and travel bans.

In 2008, the UN narrowed the scope of the arms embargo to apply only to non-governmental entities via Resolution 1807 (2008).

Current EU Sanctions

The EU first imposed sanctions on Zaire (now the DRC) in 1993, consisting of an arms embargo against armed groups and travel bans against senior officials of the Mobuto regime in response to President Mobutu refusing to hand over power to a new government.

The EU implemented the UN arms embargo in 2003 and merged their existing sanctions with the UN sanctions regime, introducing targeted asset freezes and travel bans through Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 and Council Decision 2010/788/CFSP.

Current US Sanctions

The US implements UN sanctions via EO 13413 and EO 13671.

Other Countries Sanctions

Footer