Rwanda’s government has strongly criticized U.S. sanctions imposed on General James Kabarebe, a senior official in the Rwandan government, over his alleged role in backing the M23 rebel group in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. The U.S. sanctions were announced Thursday, amid the intensifying armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have made significant territorial gains, including capturing the major cities of Goma and Bukavu.
In response to the U.S. sanctions, Rwanda labeled them as “unjustified and unfounded,” arguing that such actions do not contribute to long-term peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. A statement from Rwanda’s government emphasized that securing the border with Congo is a national security priority, dismissing the accusations of foreign interference. “This is a matter of national security, and that is our only driver,” the statement read.
The U.S. sanctions targeted General Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration, who is alleged to have acted as a liaison between the Rwandan government and M23, handling the rebels’ revenue from the export of minerals from eastern Congo. Kabarebe, a revered figure in Rwanda for his role in the country’s 1994 genocide against the Tutsi minority, also served as Rwanda’s chief of defense staff in the past. He remains a close ally of President Paul Kagame.
Kabarebe’s involvement with the M23 is seen as part of a broader historical context in which Rwanda has played a significant role in the destabilization of eastern Congo. Rwanda-backed rebels, including those led by Laurent-Desire Kabila in 1997, overthrew the Mobutu regime, but internal conflict soon erupted, leading to a devastating war. Kabarebe’s influence is also linked to the ongoing instability, particularly after the M23 resurgence in 2021.
M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, has claimed to be fighting to protect the interests of ethnic Tutsis in Congo’s North Kivu province, an area rich in minerals. Despite Rwanda’s denials of direct involvement, President Kagame has publicly stated that the M23 rebels deserve support, citing security concerns stemming from the lawlessness in eastern Congo and the discrimination faced by Congolese Tutsis.
The U.S. sanctions also targeted Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, a spokesperson for M23, as well as two companies linked to Kanyuka and registered in the UK and France. In addition, the U.S. State Department has accused Rwanda of supporting M23’s aggression, which has not only led to territorial loss for Congo but also caused significant civilian casualties and displacement, as well as the deaths of UN peacekeepers.
The U.S. sanctions are part of a broader shift in policy toward Rwanda, which had previously avoided significant international repercussions for its involvement in eastern Congo. The U.S. had previously described M23 as a Rwanda-backed group and pressured Rwanda to remove missile systems from Congolese territory, but the recent sanctions represent the first major punitive action targeting high-level officials in the Rwandan government.
The M23 rebellion, now considered one of the most prominent of over 100 armed groups operating in the DRC, has escalated in recent months, with M23 forces rapidly expanding their control. The rebels’ latest offensive, which took control of Goma and Bukavu, has drawn concerns about the stability of the Congolese government, which has faced increasing pressure from both internal and external forces.
In response to the crisis, regional leaders have called for dialogue between M23 and the Congolese government, but President Félix Tshisekedi has refused to engage, labeling the M23 as a proxy force of Rwanda. The U.S. has urged all parties to return to talks under a previously mediated ceasefire agreement brokered by Angola.
Despite international calls for diplomacy, the situation remains dire, with escalating violence, humanitarian concerns, and calls for international action. The U.S. sanctions against Kabarebe, along with the broader geopolitical implications of Rwanda’s role in the DRC, underscore the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the challenges facing the region’s stability.
