The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defense and a key Rwandan financial institution over allegations that Kigali is supporting the M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The US Treasury Department said Rwanda’s defense ministry directed the deployment of thousands of troops to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where Rwandan forces allegedly operated alongside M23 fighters and provided military equipment, training and other assistance. Washington also sanctioned Zigama Credit and Savings Society, accusing the institution of playing a significant role in facilitating Rwanda’s alleged support for the rebels.
The measures are intended to pressure Rwanda to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo and end its alleged backing of M23 and its political wing, the Congo River Alliance. The United Nations has reported that Rwanda supports M23, an accusation the Rwandan government has repeatedly denied. The Congolese government welcomed the latest US sanctions. The action comes months after the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC signed a US-brokered peace agreement in Washington aimed at ending the conflict and improving regional stability. However, continued fighting has raised concerns about the agreement’s implementation.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions were intended to hold Kigali accountable for its commitments under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity. M23 re-emerged as a major armed force in eastern Congo in 2021, expanding its territorial control and capturing the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu in early 2025. The conflict has fueled displacement, worsened humanitarian conditions and heightened tensions between the neighboring countries. The latest sanctions increase diplomatic and financial pressure on Rwanda, but their impact will depend on whether they lead to changes on the ground and renewed progress towards a lasting peace in eastern Congo.
