The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force and senior Rwandan military officials due to their role in ongoing fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The sanctions demand an immediate withdrawal of Rwandan forces from the mineral-rich region.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the territorial gains of the rebel group AFC/M23 would have been impossible without support from Rwanda.
The U.S. State Department added that this support enabled “horrific human rights abuses.”
Rwanda has consistently denied backing the rebels, accusing the sanctions of unfairly targeting one party in the peace process and misrepresenting the conflict.
The Rwandan government stressed its commitment to disengaging forces alongside the DRC under U.S.-led mediation efforts but criticized the Congolese government for failing to honor commitments, including ending militia support.
Congo welcomed the sanctions, calling them “a strong signal in support of respect” for its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, fighting in eastern DRC continues across multiple fronts.
The rebels recently launched a drone attack on Kisangani’s airport, hundreds of kilometers from the main conflict zone, claiming responsibility for the strike.
Sanctioned Rwandan officials include army chief of staff Vincent Nyakarundi, chief of defence staff, special operations commander, and the 5th Infantry Division commander.
Despite a peace agreement signed in Washington in December 2025 under the U.S. President Donald Trump’s mediation, the conflict escalated when AFC/M23 forces briefly occupied the eastern city of Uvira near the Burundian border, highlighting the fragility of the region’s peace.
The sanctions reflect U.S. concerns that continued rebel activity risks expanding the conflict into a broader regional war, threatening stability in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
