Keypoints:
- US sanctions Rwanda’s military and senior commanders
- Washington accuses Kigali of backing M23 rebels
- Pressure mounts after renewed eastern Congo fighting
THE United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s military and four senior commanders, accusing Kigali of supporting armed rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a move that intensifies diplomatic pressure amid fragile regional peace efforts.
In a statement issued Monday, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), alleging it has trained, equipped and fought alongside the March 23 Movement (M23), an armed group already sanctioned by both the United Nations and the United States for human rights abuses.
According to the Treasury, RDF support enabled M23 fighters to seize territory across eastern DRC, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu as well as strategic mining areas central to the region’s mineral economy.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington expected an immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops and military assets from Congolese territory.
‘President Trump is the Peace President, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that the parties to the Washington Accords uphold their obligations,’ Bessent said. ‘We expect the immediate withdrawal of Rwanda Defence Force troops, weapons, and equipment.’
Peace accord tested by renewed fighting
The sanctions were announced only days after US President Donald Trump hosted DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Washington for the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, aimed at easing tensions in the Great Lakes region.
Shortly after the agreement, M23 fighters captured Uvira, a strategic city near the DRC–Burundi border. The offensive reportedly resulted in civilian deaths and displaced thousands of residents, raising fears of wider regional instability.
Although the group later withdrew from the city, US officials warned that continued M23 activity near Burundi’s border — combined with alleged RDF support — risks expanding the conflict into a broader regional confrontation.
A joint statement from the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes condemned both M23 operations and Rwanda’s military involvement, urging Kigali to withdraw its forces from eastern DRC.
Allegations of direct military involvement
US authorities accused the Rwanda Defence Force of providing operational and technological support to M23, including advanced battlefield equipment such as drones, air defence systems and GPS-jamming technology.
Thousands of RDF troops are believed to be deployed across eastern DRC, where they allegedly engage in combat operations and help consolidate rebel control of captured territories.
The Treasury Department further alleged that RDF facilities have been used to train M23 fighters and assist recruitment efforts, including among refugee populations.
With RDF backing, M23 fighters have been linked to extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and torture, according to US officials. Washington also alleged that Rwanda has gained access to mineral-rich zones captured during the fighting, contributing to the financing of the rebellion.
Senior commanders designated
The sanctions target four senior RDF leaders identified by US authorities as central figures in military operations linked to eastern DRC.
They include Army Chief of Staff Vincent Nyakarundi; Major General Ruki Karusisi, commander of the RDF’s 5th Infantry Division; Chief of Defence Staff Mubarakh Muganga; and Special Operations commander Stanislas Gashugi.
The individuals were designated under Executive Order 13413, which authorises sanctions against actors considered responsible for threatening peace, security or stability in the DRC.
Financial restrictions and global implications
Under the measures, all property and financial interests belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities within US jurisdiction are frozen. American citizens and companies are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving designated persons unless authorised by OFAC.
The restrictions also apply to companies owned at least 50 percent by sanctioned individuals, potentially widening the economic consequences beyond the military leadership.
US officials warned that foreign financial institutions could face exposure to sanctions if they facilitate transactions connected to the designated parties.
Treasury officials emphasised that sanctions are intended to change behaviour rather than punish, noting that removal from the sanctions list remains possible if conditions improve.
Regional tensions intensify
The decision highlights mounting international concern over escalating violence in eastern DRC, where armed groups, regional rivalries and competition over critical minerals continue to drive instability.
Washington’s action signals a sharper diplomatic stance toward Rwanda at a sensitive moment for regional diplomacy, raising questions about whether economic pressure can stabilise the conflict or deepen geopolitical tensions across the Great Lakes region.
