The European Union has renewed sanctions against politicians it believes are implicated in human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

An asset freeze and a ban on entering the EU will apply to 14 named individuals for another year.

They include Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, President Joseph Kabila's preferred successor in presidential elections 13 days from now.

Reports say that last week the Congolese foreign minister, Léonard She Okitundu, asked the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to suspend the sanctions against Mr Shadary before the elections.

The African Union made a similar request last month.