In accordance with paragraph 2 (g) of the Guidelines for the conduct of its work, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in its sanctions list.
AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN was listed on 20 February 2024 pursuant to paragraphs 7 (b), 7 (e), and 7 (h) of resolution 2293 (2016) and paragraph 3 of resolution 2641 (2022), as reaffirmed by paragraph 2 of resolution 2688 (2023). AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN leads a unit of a sanctioned entity and foreign armed group operating in the DRC: the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) (CDe.001). As a leader of ADF, AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN has effective command and control over the group’s combatants. AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN is involved in planning, directing, or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability, and insecurity in the DRC. AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN is involved in the production and manufacture of improvised explosive devices in the DRC, as well as the planning, ordering, aiding, abetting or otherwise assistance of attacks in the DRC with improvised explosive devices.
In reference to paragraph 7 (b) of resolution 2293 (2016): the 2021 final report of the UN Group of Experts on the DRC states that AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN, as “commander of a camp in Irungu/Mwalika, received new recruits to whom he provided military and ideological training”. He is therefore also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC.
In reference to paragraph 7 (e) of resolution 2293 (2016): AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN has been directly involved in the planning and conduct of ADF attacks, including a 16 June 2023 attack on the Lhubiriha Secondary School in Uganda, a bombing in the small town of Kasindi (Beni territory) on 15 January 2023, and a bomb attack in Goma on 7 April 2022 which killed six persons and injured sixteen others.
AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN is one of the main sponsors of the attacks on Ugandan territory: Mpondwe, on June 16, 2023 (42 civilians killed), and Queen Elizabeth National Park, on October 17, 2023 (3 civilians killed). According to Congolese and Ugandan sources, he directly trained and directed the commando units who carried out the attacks in Uganda from the DRC, including the ADF commander MUSA KAMUSI. AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN, along with senior official MEDDIE NKALUBO, has since 2023 spearheaded major ADF planned attacks on Ugandan territory.
On the evening of 7 April 2022, an explosion occurred at a bar in the Mabanga Sud neighbourhood of Goma, also known as Katindo military camp. Six persons were killed and at least 16 were injured. Evidence collected on site by the Group, corroborated by FARDC sources, forensic doctors, witness accounts and ADF sources, indicated that the blast was the result of an explosive vest worn by a woman killed in the attack. Three ADF collaborators and three intelligence sources reported that the attack had been planned by ADF, relying on its collaborator network in Goma. At least three individuals, identified as “Hassan”, “Yusuf” and “Masika”, were part of the ADF network in Goma and had received instructions from Meddie Nkalubo and Abwakasi (HASSAN). This attack marked the first documented ADF attack in Goma involving an improvised explosive device.
The 2023 final report of the Group of Experts also states that HASSAN “was the one taking the final decision regarding the location and the dates of the IED attacks, and that he required the attacks to inflict the maximum number of casualties.” Owing to his senior leadership position within the ADF and his direct involvement in the planning and conduct of ADF attacks, AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN is therefore involved in planning, directing or committing acts in the DRC that constitute human rights violations or abuses.
In reference to paragraph 7 (h) of resolution 2293 (2016): the 2021 final report of the Group of Experts states that AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN, as “commander of a camp in Irungu/Mwalika, received new recruits to whom he provided military and ideological training”. He is therefore acting on behalf of the ADF (CDe.001).
In reference to paragraph 3 of resolution 2641 (2022): the 2021 final report of the Group of Experts states that AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN was “responsible for building most ADF IEDs and the armory in his camp.” The 2023 final report of the Group of Experts further contains details of a number of bombs built by AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN, including the IED which exploded in a crowded market in Beni town on 25 January 2023. AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN is involved in the production and manufacture of improvised explosive devices in the DRC. The 2023 final report also states that AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN “was the one taking the final decision regarding the location and the dates of the IED attacks, and that he required the attacks to inflict the maximum number of casualties.” Owing to his senior leadership position within the ADF and his direct involvement in the planning and conduct of ADF attacks, AHMAD MAHMOOD HASSAN is therefore involved in the commission, planning, ordering, aiding, abetting or otherwise assistance of attacks in the DRC with improvised explosive devices.