US Sanctions DRC Mineral Networks, Issues Kenya Student Visa Warning & Charges Haitian Gang Leader - August 2025

The United States has announced criminal charges and a $5 million reward for the arrest of Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue, a move expected to provide relief for Kenyan Police officers in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. Separately, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi issued a warning to Kenyan students in the United States, advising that skipping classes, withdrawing from programs, or dropping out could lead to visa revocation and affect future eligibility. The US also sanctioned four entities involved in the illicit mineral trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These measures are intended to disrupt the financing of armed conflict and human rights abuses in eastern DRC.