WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Two Congolese M23 militia leaders are subject to sanctions for their use of child soldiers, among other things, the U.S. Treasury Department said Tuesday.
Baudoin Ngaruye and Innocent Kaina were designated for sanctions pursuant to an executive order that targets persons contributing to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Treasury Department said in a release.
As a result of Treasury's action, the men's assets within U.S. jurisdiction must be frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting business dealings with Ngaruye or Kaina.
"M23 leaders Ngaruye and Kaina are responsible for carrying out terrible acts of violence against civilians and children in the DRC," Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Adam J. Szubin said. "We will continue to work with our partners in the international community to bring about an end to this conflict."
Both are being designated for their involvement in recruiting and using child soldiers in the conflict and for leading the militant organization. Ngaruye is also being designated for acts involving the targeting of children in the conflict in the DRC, including killing, maiming, and sexual violence in violation of international law.
In November, the U.N. Security Council DRC Sanctions Committee added Ngaruye and Kaina to its consolidated travel ban and asset freeze list.
M23 is a militant group operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and is comprised of rebels who defected from the country's armed forces.
