UK sanctions eight DRC armed-group figures and entities

LONDON, July 17, 2026 — The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office added eight UN-sourced designations to the UK Sanctions List under the Democratic Republic of the Congo regime, targeting armed-group organizations and leaders accused of destabilizing the country.

The additions include the Alliance Fleuve Congo, also known as the Congo River Alliance, and Twirwaneho. Both entities are subject to asset freezes. The six individuals face asset freezes and travel bans.

The UK said the Congo River Alliance supports the already designated M23 militia, impedes disarmament and demobilization efforts, and shares responsibility for M23’s destabilizing activities, including the exploitation of coltan. Twirwaneho was linked to the Congo River Alliance and cited for recruiting and using children in armed conflict, human rights abuses and violations of the DRC arms embargo.

The individuals include leaders or commanders associated with Twirwaneho, the Congo River Alliance, M23, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and the Allied Democratic Forces. The stated grounds include killings, child recruitment, sexual abuse, attacks against civilians, obstruction of disarmament processes and support for designated entities.

The measures freeze funds and economic resources belonging to or controlled by the designated parties and prohibit making funds or economic resources available to them, unless an exception or license applies. The newly added aliases, passport details, identification data and other biographical information broaden the data available for sanctions screening and list maintenance.