Keypoints:
- Kigali calls US sanctions one-sided and distorted
- Washington targets Rwanda Defence Force leadership
- DRC welcomes move as defence of sovereignty
RWANDA has condemned new United States sanctions targeting its military leadership, accusing Washington of unfairly singling out Kigali over renewed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The US State Department on Monday announced sanctions against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four senior officers, including army chief of staff Vincent Nyakarundi. The measures freeze any assets held within US jurisdiction and prohibit American individuals or entities from engaging in financial transactions with those designated.
The dispute marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between Washington and Kigali, raising fresh doubts about a US-brokered peace agreement signed in December to stabilise eastern Congo.
Kigali says sanctions ‘distort the facts’
In an official statement, the Rwandan government described the sanctions as ‘unjustly targeting only one party’ and accused the US of ‘misrepresenting the reality and distorting the facts of the conflict’.
Kigali maintains that it does not support the M23 rebel group, which has seized territory in North and South Kivu provinces over the past year. Rwanda argues that its security posture near the border is defensive, aimed at countering armed groups that include militias linked to perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.
Officials insist that Rwanda remains committed to diplomatic solutions and regional peace efforts rather than military escalation.
Washington links RDF to rebel advances
The United States says the sanctions were prompted by continued territorial gains by M23 fighters, including the capture of strategic towns and mining areas. Shortly after a December peace accord was signed, the rebels took control of the key eastern city of Uvira, intensifying international concern.
‘The continued backing from the RDF and its senior leadership has enabled M23 to capture DRC sovereign territory and continue these grave abuses,’ State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
The peace agreement had been brokered by US President Donald Trump, who hosted leaders of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo in Washington. Trump described the accord as a potential ‘great miracle’ capable of stabilising the Great Lakes region and strengthening supply chains for critical minerals essential to global technology and energy industries.
However, renewed fighting soon cast doubt on the durability of the deal.
Kinshasa welcomes US move
The government of the DRC expressed ‘deep appreciation’ for the US action, calling it ‘a clear signal of support’ for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kinshasa has long accused Kigali of backing rebel groups to extend its influence in mineral-rich eastern provinces, where cobalt, coltan and gold deposits are strategically significant. The region has endured decades of instability involving local militias, foreign armed groups and cross-border rivalries.
Humanitarian organisations warn that recent clashes have displaced thousands of civilians, worsening already fragile conditions in conflict-affected communities.
Diplomatic strain grows
The sanctions risk complicating broader US-Rwanda relations. Kigali has been regarded as a key regional security partner and has previously cooperated with Washington on migration and strategic initiatives.
President Trump had earlier praised Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s willingness to collaborate on migration arrangements, a central policy objective for his administration.
Analysts say the latest move reflects mounting frustration in Washington over persistent instability in eastern Congo despite high-level mediation efforts. With both Kigali and Kinshasa holding firm to their positions, diplomatic tensions appear set to intensify as the fragile peace process faces renewed pressure.
