INTERNATIONAL: Designation for Sanctions of an Armed Leader in the DRC

The Permanent Missions to the United Nations of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States submitted to the Security Council's Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the name of Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, to be added to the list of individuals and entities subject to a worldwide travel ban and asset freeze.
Sheka is the leader of the Mai-Mai Sheka, a Congolese armed group responsible for impeding the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of combatants, carrying out attacks on mines in Eastern DRC, and serious violations of international law involving the targeting of children.

Members of the Committee agreed on 28 November, 2011, that this individual would be placed on the Committee's list of designees for DRC sanctions.

This designation demonstrates the international community's continued determination to take firm action against those who oppose the disarmament of rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and who are responsible for the recruitment of children and serious human rights abuses. Our Missions strongly encourage the Congolese government to implement the existing arrest warrant currently outstanding against Sheka.

The Permanent Missions to the United Nations of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States will continue to work with members of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Committee to identify and pursue the designation of individuals and entities that meet the criteria in Resolution 1857 (2008).

Background

The UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo is responsible for monitoring UN Member State implementation of the sanctions in place in the DRC. The Committee comprises all 15 members of the Security Council, and was authorized by Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1596 (2005) to list individuals and entities for an assets freeze and travel ban.

Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, born in 1976 in Walikale Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the Commander in Chief of the political branch of the Mai-Mai Sheka, a Congolese armed group that impedes the disarmament, demobilization, or reintegration of combatants. It operates from bases in Walikale territory in eastern DRC.

The Mai-Mai Sheka group has carried out attacks on mines in eastern DRC, including taking over the Bisiye mines and extorting from locals.

Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka has also committed serious violations of international law involving the targeting of children. Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka planned and ordered a series of attacks in Walikale
territory from July 30 to August 2, 2010 to punish local populations accused of collaborating with Congolese government forces. In the course of the attacks, children were abducted, raped, subjected to forced labor and other human rights abuses. The Mai-Mai Sheka militia group also forcibly recruits boys and holds children in their ranks from recruitment drives.