The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda's ministry of Defence and a Rwandan financial institution, Zigama Credit and Savings Society, over alleged support for the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The sanctions, announced by the US Department of the Treasury, accuse Rwanda of facilitating military and financial assistance to M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance. This move aims to hold Rwanda accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity.
According to the US Treasury Department, Rwanda's security forces have deployed thousands of troops in North and South Kivu provinces, where they allegedly operate alongside M23 and provide the group with military equipment, supplies, logistical assistance, and training. The Treasury Department also alleged that Rwandan forces have introduced advanced weaponry, including surface-to-air missile systems and electronic jamming equipment, posing risks to civilian aviation in eastern Congo. These actions contradict Rwanda's commitments to peace and stability in the region.
The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, stated that the measures were meant to pressure Rwanda into halting its support for M23 and withdrawing its troops from eastern DRC. Bessent emphasised that Rwanda must honour its commitments under the Washington Accords, which were signed by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in December 2025. The accords aimed to advance a peaceful resolution to the conflict while promoting regional trade, investment, and transparency in critical mineral supply chains.
The Treasury Department alleged that Zigama Credit and Savings Society facilitated payments to suppliers in China and other countries for weapons, ammunition, and military equipment for the Rwanda Defence Force. The institution also allegedly facilitated payments for military training and transactions worth tens of millions of dollars involving M23 and the Congo River Alliance. Furthermore, a Zigama branch was accused of facilitating the transportation of gold extracted from M23-controlled territory in eastern Congo to Rwanda.
The sanctions come amid continued fighting in eastern Congo despite diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi signed the US-brokered Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity on December 4, 2025. However, fighting has continued, with M23 maintaining control over strategic areas, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which the group captured in early 2025.
Rwanda has consistently denied supporting armed groups in Congo, citing its security concerns related to the activities of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The Congolese government welcomed the latest sanctions, calling on Rwanda to honour its commitments under the Washington Accords and withdraw its troops from Congolese territory.
The new measures follow sanctions Washington imposed in March 2026 on the Rwanda Defence Force and four senior officials for their alleged support for M23. Under the latest sanctions, assets belonging to the designated institutions that fall within US jurisdiction or are held or controlled by US persons must be blocked. Transactions involving the sanctioned entities are generally prohibited for US persons unless authorised or exempted under applicable regulations.
Key points
- The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Rwanda's Defence ministry and Zigama Credit and Savings Society over alleged support for M23 rebels in eastern DRC.
- Rwanda's security forces allegedly deployed thousands of troops in North and South Kivu provinces, providing M23 with military equipment and logistical assistance.
- The sanctions aim to pressure Rwanda into halting its support for M23 and withdrawing its troops from eastern DRC, in line with its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity.
