The United States on Thursday imposed a visa ban on a number of Congolese officials accused of corruption or electoral malpractice.
The U.S. State Department did not however name the individuals, saying it was not obligated to reveal them based on “foreign policy considerations.”
“Today’s actions send a strong signal that the U.S. government is committed to fighting corruption, to supporting credible elections that lead to DRC’s first peaceful and democratic transfer of power,” the State Department said.
The move comes as the country is preparing to hold a delayed presidential election to find a replacement for Joseph Kabila.
The vote was initially scheduled for November 2016, but the electoral body said it could not conduct it due to logistical challenges.
The failure to conduct the poll meant Kabila stayed on in power even though his mandate was due to end in December 2016.
His failure to step aside sparked conflict in the country, with hundreds killed and tens of thousands displaced.
