U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on DRC rebel leadership

The Treasury Department targeted this time Eric Badege and Jean-Marie Runiga Rugerero, military and political leaders of the group, who have been added lately by the UN Security Council's DRC Sanctions Committee to its consolidated asset freeze and travel ban list along with several other senior leaders.

Badege was accused of leading a series of attacks that involved the killing of civilians, while Rugerero was accused of indicating willingness to retake the city of Goma, a city they took in November but withdrew days later in order to begin negotiations with the government.

"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," said David Cohen, undersecretary of treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

"Today's designations underscore the United States' determination to deny impunity for these despicable acts," he said in a statement.

The M23 rebellion started in April last year, when a militia that had been integrated into the DRC armed forces mutinied. The militant group has since taken control of large parts of eastern DRC, which is rich in mineral resources.