KINSHASA (DR Congo), June 22, 2018 (News Wires) - The US State Department says it has imposed sanctions and visa bans on top DR Congo officials for corruption linked to long-delayed elections due in December and for rights abuses. It asked DRC President Joseph Kabila to ensure a peaceful transition of power in the December 23 election. Several unidentified "senior DRC officials" were targeted for "involvement in significant corruption related to the DRC's electoral process," a State Department communique said late Thursday. "Further, the Department is taking steps to prevent entry into the United States of certain DRC officials involved in human rights violations," it said. "Today's actions send a strong signal that the US government is committed to fighting corruption, to supporting credible elections that lead to DRC's first peaceful and democratic transfer of power, and to holding accountable those who are responsible for significant corruption or serious violations of human rights." The State Department late Thursday also said it would send career diplomat Michael Hammer as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a post that has been vacant for several months. Hammer had served as ambassador to Chile between 2014 and 2016 and was also Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs. He has worked in five foreign missions.