The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday against a Rwandan government minister and a spokesperson for the M23 rebel group, following escalating violence in neighboring Congo. The U.S. accused them of playing pivotal roles in the ongoing conflict, which has seen Rwanda-backed rebels intensify their offensive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The U.S. sanctions targeted James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister for Regional Integration, and Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, a spokesperson for the M23 rebels. In addition to the individuals, two companies with links to Kanyuka, registered in Britain and France, were also sanctioned. The U.S. State Department stated that these actions are part of efforts to hold accountable those exacerbating the violence in Congo.
M23, the most powerful of the armed groups vying for control of the mineral-rich eastern region of Congo, has seen an unprecedented surge in its territorial gains. The rebels’ swift three-week offensive, which began in January 2023, led to the capture of Goma, the strategic capital of North Kivu province, and the takeover of Bukavu, the second-largest city in the region. The offensive has raised alarms due to the scale of M23’s territorial expansion and the mounting humanitarian crisis.
The U.S. government has called for an immediate cessation of Rwanda’s support for M23 and demanded the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congo. United Nations experts estimate that approximately 4,000 Rwandan soldiers have been deployed in eastern Congo in support of the rebels, a claim that has further strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Tammy Bruce, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, said in a statement that the U.S. is also urging both the governments of Congo and Rwanda to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations committed during the conflict. The violence, particularly in the city of Goma, has led to more than 700 deaths and left nearly 3,000 people injured since the start of M23’s offensive on January 26, 2023.
The U.S. Treasury’s acting undersecretary, Bradley T. Smith, emphasized that Thursday’s sanctions highlight the U.S. government’s resolve to target key individuals such as Kabarebe and Kanyuka who are fueling the conflict. Kabarebe, a former Rwandan military officer, has been accused of facilitating M23’s mineral trade and managing the export of minerals looted from eastern Congo.
The crisis in eastern Congo, compounded by the actions of M23, has worsened the humanitarian situation in an already volatile region. More than 5 million people have been displaced by the violence, and ongoing battles between rebel groups and the Congolese military continue to cause widespread instability. The U.S. sanctions serve as a strong condemnation of the violence and an attempt to pressure those involved to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The sanctions come amid ongoing international efforts to de-escalate the violence, with calls for dialogue and negotiations between the involved parties to restore peace and security in the region.
