US bars entry of three Congo public officials for 'significant corruption'

(Reuters) - The United States has barred three Democratic Republic of the Congo public officials from entering the country, alleging the individuals were involved in significant corruption, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The individuals targeted include Cosma Wilungula Balongelwa, the former Director General of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), and Augustin Ngumbi Amuri, a legal advisor to ICCN, the spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; editing by Rami Ayyub)