Leaders of the M23 Militant Group
Targeted for Contributing to the Ongoing Conflict in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo
WASHINGTON – The
U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated two senior leaders of the
Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) militant group, which foments violence and
instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). M23 was designated by the Department of the
Treasury on January 3, 2013. This action
against Eric Badege and Jean-Marie Runiga Rugerero was taken pursuant to
Executive Order (E.O.) 13413, which targets persons contributing to the
conflict in the DRC.
“The United States is committed to working with the
international community to end the violence that destabilizes communities in
the DRC and the atrocities perpetrated by armed groups against children. Today’s designations underscore the United
States’ determination to deny impunity for these despicable acts,” said Under
Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen.
Eric Badege is a military commander of M23, and has led a
series of attacks that involved the killing of civilians.
Jean-Marie Runiga Rugerero (Runiga) is the leader of the
political wing of M23. In that capacity,
he has led M23 delegations and issued demands to the Congolese government that
included the resignation of Congolese President Kabila and the dissolution of
the national assembly. Runiga indicated
that if given the opportunity, M23 could retake the city of Goma.
The UN Security Council’s Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sanctions Committee recently listed the M23 group and several M23 senior
leaders, including Runiga and Badege, on its consolidated asset freeze and
travel ban list.
M23 is an armed group operating in eastern DRC which has
fomented violence and instability in the country. The group has committed serious violations of
international law involving the targeting of children in the conflict and is
responsible for campaigns of horrific violence against the DRC’s civilian
population. M23 has used its resources
to undermine peace efforts in the region and has taken control of large parts
of eastern DRC, and continues to impede the disarmament, demobilization, and
reintegration of combatants in the conflict.
Identifying
Information:
Name: Eric Badege
Date of Birth: 1971
Title: Lieutenant
Colonel
Alternate Title: Colonel
Name:
Jean-Marie Runiga Rugerero
AKA: Jean-Marie
Runiga Lugerero
Date of Birth: September
17, 1966
Place of Birth: Democratic
Republic of the Congo
###