The United States has issued a firm demand for Rwanda to immediately withdraw its troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and halt all support to the M23 rebel group, intensifying international pressure on Kigali over its role in the region’s ongoing conflict. During a digital press briefing, Massad Boulos, U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa, and Corina Sanders, Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, called Rwanda’s military presence in eastern DRC “unacceptable” and a major source of instability.
“The M23 would not be the force it is today without external support, particularly from Rwanda,” Sanders stated, citing findings from multiple UN reports that have consistently linked Rwanda’s military to the well-armed M23 militia. The M23 group—revived in 2021 after years of dormancy—has seized large areas of North Kivu province, including strategic towns near Goma. The group is accused of grave human rights violations, including mass killings, forced recruitment of children, and the displacement of over 1.5 million civilians since 2022.
While acknowledging abuses by both the Congolese military (FARDC) and M23, U.S. officials stressed that the scale and coordination of M23’s atrocities demand stronger international action. The U.S. reiterated its support for the Luanda and Nairobi peace initiatives, which call for the withdrawal of foreign forces and a ceasefire in eastern DRC. Washington also reaffirmed its commitment to Congo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for all armed actors to return to dialogue.
This marks one of Washington’s clearest condemnations of Rwanda’s involvement in eastern Congo in recent years. The U.S. statement follows similar concerns from the European Union, United Nations, and African Union, all alarmed by the escalating humanitarian crisis and the failure of recent peace efforts. The DRC government has welcomed the U.S. position, urging stronger international sanctions against Rwanda and M23 leadership. Rwanda, however, continues to deny supporting the rebels, despite mounting evidence and diplomatic isolation.
