Name

Identifying information

Reasons

Date of listing

‘12.

Justin BITAKWIRA

a.k.a. Bihona-Hayi

Position: national deputy, responsible for the Wazalendo in South Kivu

DOB: 5.12.1960

POB: Lemera, DRC

Nationality: DRC

Gender: male

Function or profession: politician, former national minister and president of the Alliance for the Republic and National Consciousness

Justin Bitakwira is a Congolese politician, former government minister and member of the political party “Union for the Congolese Nation”. In February 2025, he was appointed by President Tshisekedi to be responsible for the Wazalendo in South Kivu in the National Parliament.

In his public speeches, he has repeatedly incited violence and encouraged discrimination and hostility towards the Banyamulenge community, which has been targeted and attacked by armed groups.

Those inflammatory speeches and narratives contribute to fuelling the conflict and violence in the DRC, in particular in the Hauts-Plateaux region characterised by inter-communal conflicts.

Justin Bitakwira is therefore responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, through inciting violence.

8.12.2022

20.

Charles SEMATAMA

a.k.a. Sebanyana

Function/rank: Commander, Military leader of Twirwaneho

DOB: 1975

POB: Kalunyo village, around Kamombo localities, South Kivu, DRC

Nationality: DRC

Gender: male

Charles Sematama is a former officer of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and holds the leading position of Commander and Military leader of the non-governmental armed group Twirwaneho operating in South Kivu, which claims to represent the Banyamulenge Community.

Twirwaneho sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC and is responsible for serious human rights abuses in that country, in particular through the voluntary or forced child recruitment to participate actively in hostilities, attacks against civilians and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), and killings, such as attacks against civilians in Mikenge village in November 2021 which killed at least six persons.

In addition, Charles Sematama has been directly involved in propaganda sessions as well as in the forced recruitment and use of children, including as armed escorts.

Owing to his leading position in Twirwaneho and his direct involvement in the forced recruitment and use of children, Charles Sematama is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.

28.7.2023

28.

Justin Gacheri MUSANGA

a.k.a. Gaceri MUSANGA, CS BRAVO SIERRA, BRAVO THREE

Function/rank: Brigadier-General of the March 23 Movement / Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC), Commander of the North-West Defence Zone

POB: Masisi, DRC

Gender: male

Father: Erasto Ntibaturana (Hutu customary leader in Busumba)

Justin Gacheri Musanga holds a leading position as Brigadier-General of the M23/ARC, a non-governmental armed group operating in Eastern DRC.

The M23/ARC sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through inciting violence. In addition, it is responsible for serious human rights abuses, including killings, attacks and sexual violence against civilians, as well as child recruitment.

Owing to his leading position in the M23/ARC, Justin Gacheri Musanga is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.

26.7.2024

36.

Bertrand BISIMWA

Function/rank: Leader (President) of the political branch of the “Mouvement du 23 mars” (M23)

DOB: 8.9.1972

POB: Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nationality: Congolese

Gender: male

Bertrand Bisimwa holds a leading position as President of the March 23 Movement (M23), a nongovernmental armed movement.

The M23 sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through inciting violence and deploying a parallel administration in Eastern DRC, which constitutes a violation of the territorial integrity of the DRC. In addition, it is responsible for serious human rights abuses, including killings of and attacks and sexual violence against civilians, as well as for child recruitment.

Owing to his leading position in the M23, Bertrand Bisimwa is involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, especially by contributing to the instalment of parallel administrations in Eastern DRC.

17.3.2025

40.

Eugène NKUBITO

Function/rank: Commander 3rd division (Major General) of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF)

Gender: male

Nationality: Rwandan

RDF Service number: 218

Since June 2023, Major-General Eugène Nkubito has held a leading position as Commander of the 3rd Division of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), deployed in eastern DRC and more specifically in the North Kivu province.

The RDF presence in the DRC has as its objective reinforcing the operations of the March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC), a non-governmental armed group operating in Eastern DRC by providing troops and materiel.

The RDF presence constitutes a violation of the territorial integrity of the DRC and sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the region. It is also responsible for serious human rights abuses, including collective punishment, and sustains serious human rights abuses committed by members of M23.

Owing to his commanding role within the 3rd Division of the RDF deployed in eastern DRC, Eugène Nkubito is responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the region.

17.3.2025

42.

Jean-Bosco NZABONIMPA MUPENZI

Function/rank: AFC/M23 Representative for Finance in South Kivu

POB: Rubaya, Masisi, North Kivu

Nationality: Congolese

Gender: male

Associated entities: March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC)

Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi is the Representative for Finance in South Kivu of the March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC) operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since January 2024 he operated in the North Kivu province before being appointed in a new position in South Kivu in March 2025.

The M23 is a rebel armed group responsible for the current armed conflict. It also sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the region as well as the serious human rights abuses and violations committed by members of the M23, including killings of and attacks and sexual violence against civilians, as well as child recruitment.

Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi provides support to the M23 armed group, in particular by ensuring the management of the M23 Finances and Production department, as well as taking part in the training of new recruits.

Owing to his leading position within the M23, Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi is involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.

17.3.2025

43.

Francis KAMANZI

Function/rank: Director-General of the Rwanda Cooperative Agency, former Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB)

Nationality: Rwandan

Gender: male

Francis Kamanzi held a leading position as Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) from February 2024 to July 2025, when he was appointed Director-General of the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (“RCA”). The RCA falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. One of the main responsibilities of the RCA is to regulate and supervise cooperative organisations. Among them, 141 cooperatives operate in the mining sector, the main export revenue-earning sector of Rwanda. Therefore, Francis Kamanzi is still involved in the exploitation or trading of natural resources.

Minerals continue to be exploited in mining areas controlled by the March 23 Movement (M23) and trafficked to Rwanda for the benefit of both the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 and the Rwandan economy, where these conflict minerals are mixed with Rwandan production.

Owing to his formerly leading position in the RMB and his position of Director-General of the RCA, Francis Kamanzi is responsible for exploiting the armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC, including through the illicit exploitation or trading of natural resources.

17.3.2025

44.

Joseph MUSANGA BAHATI

a.k.a.

“Erasto”; “Bahati Erasto”; “Colonel Erasto”; “Colonel Bahati Musanga”

Function/rank: Governor of North Kivu

DOB: 18.8.1978

POB: Bashali-Mokoto (Busumba)

Nationality: Congolese

Gender: male

Associated entities: March 23 Movement/Alliance Fleuve Congo (M23/AFC)

Joseph Musanga Bahati is a senior figure in the structure of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and within the Alliance Fleuve Congo. He has held the position of Chief of Finance of the M23 for several years.

In February 2025, he was designated governor of North Kivu within the new illegal “administration” imposed by the M23 in violation of Congolese sovereignty.

The deployment of a parallel administration in the DRC constitutes a violation of the territorial integrity of the DRC. It also sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the region as well as the serious human rights abuses and violations committed by members of the M23.

Owing to his leading position in the M23, Joseph Musanga Bahati is involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.

17.3.2025’