EU shifts four DRC-listed commanders and AFC to UN annex

From 30 September 2026, four individuals and one entity subject to EU restrictive measures over the Democratic Republic of the Congo are listed on the UN-derived annexes rather than the annexes that previously carried them.Europa Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2026/2172 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2191Europa, both adopted on 28 September 2026Europa and published in the Official Journal on 29 September 2026Europa, move the five entriesEuropa following the designations made on 14 July 2026 by the United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1533 (2004)Europa.

The four individuals are Charles Sematama, also recorded as SebanyanaEuropa, described as a colonel and the commander and military leader of Twirwaneho, a Congolese armed group described as involved in atrocities in South Kivu province, including the killing of civilians and the recruitment of children. Gustave Kubwayo, also recorded under the aliases Sirkoof, Surcouf and SurkofEuropa, is described as a colonel and commander of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FDLR-FOCA) and the new commander of its Commando de Recherche et d'Action en Profondeur. He is described as involved in planning, promulgating and supporting the armed group's activities, including targeting civilians, kidnapping for ransom and illegally exploiting natural resources. Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo is described as the leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)Europa, a politico-military movement allied with the United Nations-sanctioned March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC). John Imani Nzenze is described as a colonel and M23 intelligence chiefEuropa who, as a leader of M23, is involved in planning and supporting the armed group's activities. The listed entity is the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) itselfEuropa, described as operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The operative change is the annex move: the four names are deleted from Annex II to Decision 2010/788/CFSP and added to Annex IEuropaEuropa, and deleted from Annex Ia to Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 and added to Annex IEuropaEuropa, with the AFC entity moved the same wayEuropa. For funds and economic resources the consequence sits in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005: everything belonging to, owned or held by the persons and entities listed in Annex I must be frozenEuropa, and no funds or economic resources may be made available to them, directly or indirectlyEuropa. Knowing and intentional participation in activities that circumvent those measures is prohibited.Europa Screening systems that key on annex numbers must therefore re-point these five entries from Annex II and Annex Ia to Annex I.

Release of frozen funds remains possible only through the competent authorities of the Member StatesEuropa: basic expenses such as food, rent, medicines, taxes and legal fees require a determination notified to the UN Sanctions Committee which it does not oppose within four working daysEuropa, while extraordinary expenses require the Committee's approvalEuropa; funds subject to a lien or judgment predating 18 April 2005 may be released under the conditions of Article 4Europa. Both amending acts enter into force on the day following publicationEuropa, so the new annex position applies from 30 September 2026Europa, and the Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member StatesEuropa.

Legal basis: Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2026/2172 amending Decision 2010/788/CFSPEuropa, and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2191 amending Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005Europa, whose Article 2 imposes the freezeEuropa and whose Articles 3 and 4 set the derogationsEuropa.