UN adds Congo armed-group leaders, entities to sanctions list

UNITED NATIONS, July 14, 2026 — The Security Council committee overseeing sanctions under Resolution 1533 added six individuals and two entities. The entries took effect July 14 and are subject to measures imposed by the council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

The individuals include commanders or leaders associated with Alliance Fleuve Congo, or AFC; the March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army; the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda; the Allied Democratic Forces; and Twirwaneho. The two listed entities are AFC, a politico-military movement established in 2023, and Twirwaneho, a Congolese armed group formed between 2008 and early 2010.

Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, identified as AFC’s leader, is central to the network described in the update. AFC is allied with the already UN-sanctioned M23/ARC. The committee also listed Gustave Kubwayo, an FDLR-FOCA commander linked to targeting civilians, kidnapping for ransom and illegal exploitation of natural resources.

Twirwaneho was linked to atrocities in South Kivu, including killing civilians and recruiting children. Other entries cover individuals described as supporting armed-group operations, external logistics or activities undermining peace, stability and security in the DRC.

For compliance teams, the additions expand screening data with aliases, nationalities, passport numbers, locations and group affiliations. Those identifiers may help distinguish potential matches involving people or organizations operating in the DRC.