The U.S. imposed sanctions on five individuals over ongoing unrest in the Central African Republic, Washington said late on Tuesday.
The five included three individuals singled out for punitive measures by the UN earlier this month, the White House said.
The UN named former president Francois Bozize, Nourredine Adam, a leader of the Muslim rebel group Seleka that ousted Bozize in 2013, and Levy Yakete, a leader of a group that remains aligned with Bozize.
The U.S. move would send “a powerful message that impunity will not be tolerated and that those who threaten the stability of the CAR will face consequences,’’ the White House statement said.
“Growing attacks perpetrated by both Muslim and Christian militias have brought CAR to a crisis of disastrous proportions.’’
More than 2.5 million of the population of 4.6 million need humanitarian aid, it said, and one million people have been d
The UN Security Council late on Tuesday condemned the killing of a French photo journalist in the CAR.
The body of 26-year-old Camille Lepage was found in a car being driven by members of the Christian vigilantes at a checkpoint in the Bouar region.
“The members of the Security Council stressed that those responsible for the killing shall be held accountable,’’ the statement said. (dpa