U.S. Imposes Sanctions Amid Conflicts in Burundi, Central African Republic
By SAMUEL RUBENFELD
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. imposed sanctions last week on leaders engaged in conflict in two African countries.
Using its authorities, the U.S. Department of Treasury on Friday imposed sanctions on four individuals operating on either side of the conflict in Burundi, and on two militia leaders in Central African Republic. The separate statements announcing the sanctions designations highlighted the roles they allegedly played in fueling conflict in each country.
“The people of Burundi have endured the horrific consequences of this crisis,” said John Smith, acting director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, referring to the conflict, which has turned deadly in recent days. The statement cited a coordinated assault on multiple military bases, and a violent response by the Burundian government that led to at least 100 people being killed.
Treasury placed sanctions on Gervais Ndirakobuca and Joseph Mathias Niyonzima, both of whom are linked with the Burundian government; and Leonard Ngendakumana and Alexis Sinduhije, who were linked with the opposition.
The U.S. State Department said Friday in a statement it’s “gravely concerned” about the situation on the ground in Burundi, called for immediate peace talks to resolve the conflict, and threatened further sanctions on those who stoke violence.
“We continue to support efforts to hold those accountable who violate and abuse human rights and undermine stability in Burundi,” the statement said.
Separately, Treasury targeted Haroun Gaye and Eugene Ngaikosset, two militia commanders in the Central African Republic, with sanctions, saying, among other things, that they aimed to overthrow the country’s transitional government and create a cycle of attacks intended to threaten coming elections. They personally met on Oct. 1 to plan an attack days later on the capital, Bangui, Treasury said. Both of them were placed under sanctions last week by the United Nations.
Write to Samuel Rubenfeld at Samuel.Rubenfeld@wsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @srubenfeld.
Wall Street Journal
The U.S. imposed sanctions last week on leaders engaged in conflict in two African countries.
Using its authorities, the U.S. Department of Treasury on Friday imposed sanctions on four individuals operating on either side of the conflict in Burundi, and on two militia leaders in Central African Republic. The separate statements announcing the sanctions designations highlighted the roles they allegedly played in fueling conflict in each country.
“The people of Burundi have endured the horrific consequences of this crisis,” said John Smith, acting director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, referring to the conflict, which has turned deadly in recent days. The statement cited a coordinated assault on multiple military bases, and a violent response by the Burundian government that led to at least 100 people being killed.
Treasury placed sanctions on Gervais Ndirakobuca and Joseph Mathias Niyonzima, both of whom are linked with the Burundian government; and Leonard Ngendakumana and Alexis Sinduhije, who were linked with the opposition.
The U.S. State Department said Friday in a statement it’s “gravely concerned” about the situation on the ground in Burundi, called for immediate peace talks to resolve the conflict, and threatened further sanctions on those who stoke violence.
“We continue to support efforts to hold those accountable who violate and abuse human rights and undermine stability in Burundi,” the statement said.
Separately, Treasury targeted Haroun Gaye and Eugene Ngaikosset, two militia commanders in the Central African Republic, with sanctions, saying, among other things, that they aimed to overthrow the country’s transitional government and create a cycle of attacks intended to threaten coming elections. They personally met on Oct. 1 to plan an attack days later on the capital, Bangui, Treasury said. Both of them were placed under sanctions last week by the United Nations.
Write to Samuel Rubenfeld at Samuel.Rubenfeld@wsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @srubenfeld.
No comments:
Post a Comment