The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda's defence ministry, citing its alleged support for the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The move is aimed at pressuring Kigali to withdraw its troops and halt support for the rebels. The sanctions come months after Rwanda and DR Congo signed a US-brokered peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict. The agreement, known as the Washington Accords, was signed in December 2025 under US mediation.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo has continued since early 2025, when M23 seized the cities of Goma and Bukavu. Rwanda denies backing M23, but the US Treasury says Rwanda's defence ministry directed thousands of troops to fight alongside M23 in eastern DR Congo, providing weapons, equipment, logistics, and training. The M23 has seized mineral-rich areas, including gold-mining sites in South Kivu and Rubaya, a major coltan-producing area in North Kivu.
The US Treasury also alleges that minerals from rebel-held territory enter Rwanda's supply chains, with Rwanda exporting more minerals than it produces. The sanctions are intended to reinforce the Washington Accords and pressure Rwanda to honour its commitments under the agreement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, "Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its troops from eastern DRC."
DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi had urged the international community to increase pressure on Rwanda ahead of the sanctions announcement. On 24 October, he called for concrete sanctions against Rwanda, saying it would help secure a lasting peace in the country. The DR Congo foreign ministry welcomed the sanctions, urging Rwanda to respect the UN Charter and withdraw its troops from Congolese territory.
However, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo told the BBC that Rwanda remains ready to fully implement the Washington Accords, but only if DR Congo fulfills its commitments. She cited the presence of the DR Congo-sponsored FDLR genocidal militia in eastern DR Congo as a security threat to Rwanda. The FDLR is a militia linked to perpetrators of Rwanda's 1994 genocide.
The US also sanctioned Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a popular bank and financial institution serving Rwanda's security services. Washington alleges it facilitated tens of millions of dollars in transactions for M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance, and helped pay for military equipment for Rwandan forces from China.
The sanctions are a significant escalation of pressure on Rwanda to change its stance on the conflict in eastern DR Congo. The international community is closely watching the situation, with many hoping that the sanctions will lead to a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Key points
- The US has imposed sanctions on Rwanda's defence ministry over its alleged support for the M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo.
- The sanctions aim to pressure Kigali to withdraw its troops and halt support for the rebels.
- The conflict in eastern DR Congo has continued since early 2025, despite a US-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and DR Congo.
