The United States has sanctioned four entities involved in illicit mineral trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), targeting networks linked to armed conflict and human rights abuses. These measures aim to disrupt the financing of instability through minerals, particularly from eastern DRC.

• The sanctions target four entities engaged in the production and trade of conflict minerals in Rubaya, eastern DRC.
• The measures were imposed by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
• Minerals are often smuggled through Rwanda before being transported to processing countries like China.

The United States has announced criminal charges and a $5 million reward for the arrest of notorious Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue. This development is expected to provide significant relief for Kenyan Police officers deployed in Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

• The US Federal Prosecutors filed charges against Barbecue on Tuesday, August 12, for allegedly soliciting funds to incite violence in Haiti.
• Cherizier, a former Haitian police officer, is accused of numerous crimes including murder, kidnapping, and attacks on government infrastructure.
• The MSS mission, which includes Kenyan Police, has intensified operations and successfully ensured the completion of national examinations and secured vital infrastructure in Port-au-Prince.

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi issued a warning to Kenyan students in the United States regarding the risk of visa revocation due to academic non-compliance. Students who skip classes, withdraw from programs without notification, or drop out risk losing their current visa status and eligibility for future U.S. visas.

• When: The caution was issued on Wednesday, August 13
• Who: The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi warned prospective and current Kenyan students.
• Key Detail: This warning aligns with a shift in U.S. immigration policy under Donald Trump's administration, which has intensified visa enforcement and vetting, including the cancellation of over 4700 international student visas in April.