WASHINGTON, D.C., United States — The United States has imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four senior commanders over allegations that Kigali is backing the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a statement issued by the US Department of the Treasury, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the RDF had been designated for allegedly supporting, training and fighting alongside M23, an armed group already sanctioned by both the United States and the United Nations over accusations of human rights abuses and destabilising operations.
Washington said recent M23 advances, including the seizure of key urban centres such as Goma and Bukavu as well as strategic mining sites, would not have been possible without the active support of Rwandan military structures and senior officials.
Officials targeted
Those sanctioned include:
- Vincent Nyakarundi, Rwanda’s Army Chief of Staff.
- Ruki Karusisi, commander of the RDF’s 5th Infantry Division.
- Mubarakh Muganga, Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff.
- Stanislas Gashugi, Special Operations Force Commander appointed in March 2025.
The US Treasury said the designations were made pursuant to Executive Order 13413, as amended, targeting individuals and entities deemed responsible for actions threatening the peace, security or stability of the DRC.
“President Trump is the Peace President, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that the parties to the Washington Accords uphold their obligations,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“We expect the immediate withdrawal of Rwanda Defence Force troops, weapons, and equipment.”
Under the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals within US jurisdiction are blocked.
American persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the sanctioned parties unless authorised by OFAC.
Rwanda rejects allegations
Kigali strongly criticised the US move, calling it unjustified and politically skewed.
In a statement, President Paul Kagame’s administration said the sanctions “misrepresents the reality and distorts the facts” surrounding the conflict.
“Consistent and indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives constitute clear violations of ceasefire agreements by the DRC and continue to cost many lives,” the statement said.
It added that “Rwanda is fully committed to disengagement of its forces in tandem with the DRC implementing their obligations.”
Rwanda has consistently denied direct military support to M23, arguing that its security concerns stem from armed groups operating near its border, including remnants of forces linked to the 1994 genocide.
Escalation despite peace efforts
The sanctions come days after US President Donald Trump hosted DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and President Kagame for the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, a diplomatic initiative aimed at reducing tensions in the Great Lakes region.
However, shortly after the signing, M23 fighters captured Uvira, a strategic city near the Burundi border. The offensive reportedly led to civilian casualties and the displacement of thousands of residents.
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Although the group later withdrew, its continued presence in border areas has heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation.
The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes condemned the military operations attributed to both M23 and the RDF, urging an immediate withdrawal of Rwandan forces from eastern Congo.
Regional and economic implications
Eastern DRC remains one of the world’s most resource-rich yet volatile regions, home to significant deposits of cobalt, coltan and gold, minerals critical to global supply chains, including battery and electronics manufacturing.
Renewed fighting risks deepening one of Africa’s longest-running humanitarian crises. The United Nations estimates that millions remain internally displaced in eastern Congo, with aid agencies warning that further escalation could overwhelm already strained relief efforts.
Analysts say Washington’s sanctions signal a firmer stance toward Kigali, traditionally viewed as a close Western ally, and may complicate diplomatic efforts to stabilise the Great Lakes region.
Whether the measures will alter military dynamics on the ground remains uncertain.
